One bride reveals the highs and lows of her wedding planning-and tells us what she learned along the way.
When we found out that Hilary Linder, a promotions director in Columbus, Ohio, was getting married, we asked her to keep a candid diary to share with our readers. Hilary tracked her progress through the seven months leading up to her big day. Take a peek—and get the real story!
7 Months and 18 Days to Go
It’s my birthday—and I’m engaged! Brian, who lives in Cincinnati, came into town to take me out to dinner, and while the two of us were hanging out in my kitchen, he gave me my birthday present. It was a Bengals jersey (we’re big fans) and I put it on, then went to check it out in the mirror. When I came back, there was a ring box waiting for me on the counter. Then Brian said, “I was wondering if you would spend the rest of your life with me.” I was so excited, I kept saying, “Oh my God.” It was just unreal! I couldn’t take the smile off my face for the rest of the night.
7 Months and 17 Days to Go
Brian’s been joking that he doesn’t know if I said yes last night—it was indistinguishable from all those “Oh my Gods.” But now he’s sure I accepted because I’ve already started planning our wedding. I typed up a guest list; every person I’ve ever met is on there—totalling about 250! I’ll refine the list later, but it was fun to imagine everyone sharing our big day.
7 1⁄2 Months to Go
I grew up dreaming of planning my wedding, so Brian and I agreed that I’d do most of it myself. Luckily, we’re getting financial support from our families: My mom is paying for the reception, and Brian’s family is doing the rehearsal dinner. After checking out a few area venues, Mom and I decided on the Hilton for both the ceremony and reception. It fits the elegant vision I have, and it’s a great place for out-of-towners to stay. I really want to have a spring wedding, so we set the date for a little over seven months away.
7 Months to Go
My sister, the maid of honor, suggested black for the bridesmaid dresses, so I’m going with her advice. She and another bridesmaid came shopping with me and tried on a bunch of dresses. They commented on what they liked, then I made the final pick: gorgeous two-piece, strapless, David’s Bridal gowns.
In the same trip, we shopped for my dress. It was so exciting. I was choked up, thinking, “I can’t believe I’m wearing a wedding dress!” At first, I said “no way” to strapless gowns, but the girls convinced me to try one on. I loved the style so much, it was all I’ve looked at since. The gown I chose is one I’d been admiring in a magazine ad for a while.
6 1⁄2 Months to Go
Brian is creative, so I thought he’d want to help me select the invitations. He got really into it and we looked through several books. He picked the winner: a square card with silver backing, covered by a sheer overlay with a personalized sticker. Once we started on the wording, I realized I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know what time the ceremony would start. One phone call to the Hilton later, I had the time worked out and we were ready to go ahead with the invites.
6 Months to Go
A few friends have pointed out that most brides have a year to plan, but because my engagement period will be much shorter, I’ll have to book vendors quickly, while they’re still available. I’m starting to feel the pressure! I’ve found a string quartet to play classic wedding songs at the ceremony—and then break into “I Got You Babe”! And I found a DJ for the reception, too. Brian and I decided on a honeymoon Caribbean cruise. I like that on a cruise everything is planned for you.
5 1⁄2 Months to Go
My mom and I met with a florist today. He sat us down with 30 or so books of floral arrangements to peruse. I don’t know what I want my wedding colors to be yet, so I was overwhelmed. Whenever I turned a page, I wavered: “Oh, yellow looks good,” or “Red would be a nice color.” Maybe I don’t have a vision for my wedding after all! It was exhausting, and the florist wasn’t very helpful.
4 Months to Go
My mom recently called me and asked me to hire a wedding planner. She said she thought I was getting in over my head. I hate to admit it, but I was. My biggest reservation about having a planner is spending the extra money, but after meeting with Jamie from Devoted to Details, I felt much better about it. During our appointment, there weren’t heaps of books, just conversation. When I told her that Brian is a landscape architect, she came up with the perfect idea: a romantic garden theme. The wedding will be decorated with trees, topiaries, beds of grass and lush flowers. She will even connect me with a florist who can pull it off.
3 Months to Go
There have been two major changes to my plans: the DJ and my dress. At a bridal show, I met a DJ whose excitement was contagious, and he offered everything I wanted. So I hired him and canceled the one I had already booked, whom I’d never even met. (I had just reserved the date over the phone.) I guess I’d rushed in too soon.
As for the dress, the salon owner called me to say she’d found out my gown was discontinued. I was disappointed, but another day of dress shopping isn’t such a bad thing. I settled on a really pretty beaded gown by Maggie Sottero.
2 Months to Go
In Ohio, you can get your marriage license 60 days before the wedding. Brian and I went the first day we could. We were as giddy as school kids. We had to recite an oath, which we took very seriously. Afterward, we showed the license to anyone we thought might care. It was a big day!
I also had two bridal showers this month: one planned by my mom’s friends and the other given by my sister for my friends and Brian’s relatives. I had a great time at both, especially during the games my sister came up with! She’d asked Brian questions about our relationship, and I had to guess how he’d responded. I did well!
1 Month to Go
This month has been a whirlwind! I’ve been busy with a hair and makeup trial, my final dress fitting, the bachelorette party, baking cookies with Mom for the welcome bags and finalizing lots of details. I’m more exhilarated than stressed, but I am always thinking about what I have to do next. I keep organized by making a list every night of everything I want to accomplish the next day.
1 Week to Go
I can’t believe my DJ didn’t want to meet with me until the week of my wedding, but he said he wanted everything to be fresh in his mind. I’ve also been finishing the welcome bags, dropping things off at the venue and making what seems like thousands of phone calls. I’m actually having fun with all this craziness, because it keeps me looking forward to the big day!
The Wedding Day
I’m a married woman! The day went very smoothly. (Except for some behind-the-scenes stuff the planner told me about later, like the twinkle lights that almost never went up.) There were so many great moments, like this one: A few days before the wedding, we had signed all the programs individually, and at one point, I had dotted the “i” in my name with a heart. Brian laughed and did the same with his name—on only one program. When we exited the ceremony, we picked up a program as a souvenir. We happened to grab the one with the hearts!
—as told to Elena Donovan Mauer
