Living The Bicoastal Life

This past weekend marked another “bicoastal holiday” for Stephen and I, as we both had little choice but to “phone it in” with our moms on Mother’s Day.

While this is of course an understandable part of living all the way across the country from our families, after six years of making it work, the past few months have for many reasons made us both eager to head back to the West Coast, or at least somewhere closer, at some point after I complete my master's.

The truth is that as great a time as we’ve had here in DC, as we and our family members all get older, the idea of seeing them just once or twice a year simply isn’t enough. My close friends are all still in California, as well, mostly in the same area. Two of them are even set to move back this summer after time spent in Boston and Germany!



The thought of being able to once again enjoy the simple luxuries others may take for granted, like going out to dinner with your close girlfriends, enjoying a shopping trip with your sister and mom, and spending the holidays seated around the table close to beloved grandparents, fills me with an eager joy and anticipation that can’t accurately be described in words.

Just as pressingly, the thought of raising children and starting a family without the support and nearness of family fills me with a great deal of anxiety and sadness. I guess it's fair to say that being far from loved ones long-term is incompatible with my vision of a happy and healthy life, career and marriage.

How far are you from your family and close friends? How do you cope when you can’t be together?

(Photo Credit: Alex Neumann Photography)

When Parents Meet

When Stephen and I met, we discovered that we have somewhat different family backgrounds, including in terms of economics. Even so, it was important to us, and to our parents, that they meet prior to our wedding day.

Since both families live in California, they decided it would be best to meet for dinner during a trip Stephen’s mom and dad took to SoCal, even though he and I wouldn’t actually be there to participate. In the days leading up to the meeting, I truly hoped things would go well and that our parents would develop a genuine liking for each other. Most of all, I hoped they’d find plenty to talk about and share, despite their varied backgrounds and the fact that we wouldn’t be there to take part in the conversation.

The day came at last, and after a few hours of wondering, I learned that to my complete delight, things went as well as I could have hoped, with our parents finding plenty of common ground, specifically a son and daughter who had decided to spend the rest of their lives together, but also much more than that. Most importantly, meeting ahead of time allowed both families to relax and have a great time at the wedding, where we celebrated not only the union of two people, but also that of two distinct yet now interconnected families.

Did your parents meet prior to the wedding, or will they? Do you and your groom have similar or different family backgrounds?  

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography) 

Sisterhood

Though she probably felt that the past year was all about me and my wedding, today it’s my maid of honor’s turn to celebrate. You’ve read my sister Kellie’s guest posts here before, and I hope you’ll now join me in giving her a big 20th birthday shout out!

I can’t possibly express in mere words how huge a help and what a great friend Kellie was to me throughout my journey as a bride. From putting together ideas for my awesome shower last spring to diligently reporting for “restroom duty” on the big day, she was there for me at my best and worst moments. Plus, she looked absolutely gorgeous in her glam diamond headband and Katy Perry-inspired makeup!

When she’s not busy being a bride’s lackey, the creative and stylish Kellie rocks her own fashion blog, Playing Dress-Up, where her humor and sassy personality shine as she shares inspiration and advice with her more than 100 loyal readers. Check it out if you’re interested, and be sure to tell her I sent you!

Who's your maid or matron of honor, and what's most special about your relationship?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography)

A Mother’s Day ‘Thank You’

I’m no stranger to the wedding world, and one thing I hear time and again is the story of the overbearing parent who just has to have his or her way when it comes to crafting the perfect celebration. But not my mom.

Throughout our entire engagement, my mom has been nothing but helpful, understanding and generous. She’s spent her hard-earned money on gifts that make us smile, her weekends graciously making phone calls, and her evenings running errands that are impossible for me to handle from the opposite side of the country. Despite the distance between us, I talk with my mom each day, and couldn't have made it through this process without her, as she has truly poured her whole heart into our wedding.

As a way to honor all of her hard work, here’s a photo of my beautiful mother at her July 1981 wedding. I hope I’ll look as lovely as she did, and that someday, I’ll happily look back at my own wedding photos with my daughter, still grateful for all that my mom has done for me.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Love ya!

(Photo Credit: Personal Library)