Thursday, October 27, 2011

Living Apart as a Married Couple

It’s no secret that my husband and I would eventually love to move back to the West Coast, or at least somewhere that’s hopefully closer to our families and friends in California. Initially, our plan was to consider heading back last year after we got married, which would have allowed Stephen to take advantage of some great career opportunities in the state we both know and love.

But after I applied and was accepted to my publishing master’s program, we knew we’d definitely need to delay a big move for at least another couple years. Though I sometimes question whether we made the right decision, all in all, I know we’re both happy to have stayed right here in the DC area for the time being.

Why? Well, among other things, being here has allowed us to adopt our beautiful kitties Molly and Twix, work together to coordinate weddings for several amazing clients, spend time with my sister-in-law following her move from NYC, and most importantly, enjoy our first year of married life together in a place we’re growing to love more and more as time goes on.

It may not be California, but there's still plenty to love about the DC area. 
That’s why I didn’t hesitate to give an emphatic “no” when a couple friends asked whether we’d ever consider living apart for a year or two so that I could complete my degree while he began taking advantage of opportunities elsewhere. The question again came up when a professor recently shared details about a fellowship program that certainly sounds intriguing but would require me to be “geographically mobile” throughout the various rotations required.

The truth is that although this arrangement might work for some people – and some may simply have no choice, such as those with military spouses or career and training opportunities that can’t be adjusted – in my eyes, willingly choosing this type of arrangement in our situation would fly in the face of what it means to be married and share a life with one another.

While it may not always be easy to make our dreams and goals fit neatly and compatibly together, I simply did not get married to live apart from my husband for an extended period of time. After all, if I wanted to live singly and maintain a long-distance cross-country relationship, I would not have taken the step of getting married at this point in my life. Career goals and aspirations are incredibly important, no doubt, but not as important as being there for one another day in and day out, through the good times and the bad. That’s what I promised on June 4, 2010, and that’s the way I plan to live, understanding that it’s definitely never going to be all about what either one of us might individually want, but rather about finding the right path together, whatever that might be.

Married and together for life. 
In the end, we’ve made the best decisions we can thus far and will continue to do so "all the days of our lives," without any regrets, just as we promised we would. There will always be other and better opportunities to come, but none more important than the opportunity to support and care for one another each and every day. 

What do you think? Have you ever lived apart from your spouse or significant other for an extended period of time, and is it something you'd consider?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library) 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

An Aminal Print Wedding Gown?

Happy Wedding Wednesday! Though I was disappointed that my busy schedule kept me away from last weekend’s Bridal Fashion Week in NYC, I of course loved following all the hot trends and fashions on my favorite blogs. While there were many bold styles on display, the most daring by far made its appearance in a fellow blogger's tweet showcasing a full-length wedding gown with haphazard combinations of leopard and zebra prints, complete with hot pink accents.

Now, I’m a huge fan of the animal print trend in general, but a wedding gown awash in multiple prints? It was definitely a bit over the top, to say the least. Here, a few other animal-inspired findings that have recently turned my head. 




What do you think of these designs? Are they uniquely eye-catching or too wild for their own good?

(Photo Credits: weddinginspirasi.com, intimateweddings.com, leopardface.onsugar.com & oscardresses.org)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Help Support Wish Upon a Wedding DC!

Those of you who have been following this blog already know that in addition to coordinating and writing about weddings, I’m also proud to be a founding board member for Wish Upon a Wedding DC, which provides weddings and vow renewals for those facing terminal illness or serious life-altering circumstances. Since our founding last year, we’ve granted the wishes of two very deserving couples, and our fellow chapters across the country have also worked hard to make many couples’ dreams a reality.

Though some of you aren’t local to the DC area, I’d love to invite those who are to come join us Sunday, Oct. 16 at Crush Winehouse in Annapolis for a fun afternoon of tastings, small plates and pairings, with a portion of the proceeds donated to Wish Upon a Wedding. See our event listing on Facebook for more details, and please help us spread the work by posting, tweeting and sharing the news with your own followers. Your support means so much! 

Do you volunteer with any organizations? What are some of your favorite causes?

Wish Upon a Wedding DC – Meet & Greet Fundraiser

Sunday, October 16, 2011
2-5 p.m.
Crush Winehouse
114 West Street
Annapolis, MD

Valet Parking @ Loews Hotel – $2.00

(Photo Credit: crushwinehouse.com) 

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Real Wedding Inspiration: Summer Elegance

Working with Tiffany and Fiat to coordinate their June wedding was a fabulous experience in every way. From the day I met her, Tiffany’s clear vision and stellar organizational skills greatly impressed me, and it was a tremendous honor to help her talented vendors bring it all together as she married her best friend on a gorgeous summer’s afternoon.

From the traditional Catholic ceremony to the elegant reception, photographer Hino Banzon captured every moment, and I’m thrilled to share some of my favorite highlights below, showcasing a beautiful bride, lovely details and an all-around incredible celebration. 













Thank you, Tiffany and Fiat, for letting me share your day, and many happy wishes for a wonderful life together! 

Ceremony Venue:
Saint Raymond of Penafort in Springfield, Virginia 

 Reception Venue
:
Waterford at Fair Oaks in Fairfax, Virginia  

 Photography
:
Hino Banzon Photography

Florist
:
Total Wedding Kama

DJ
:
DJ Chizzau 

Hair & Makeup
:
Leah Le

Coordination:
Heather & Stephen Walrath