Image and Custom Pegs from Custom Cao

Almost exactly four months to go! Everything everyone says is true – the time absolutely flies. I’ve been engaged for nearly a year and in that time, pretty much everything has been planned. I have adored every aspect of it (aside from printing the envelopes for the invitations – what a nightmare) and I am excited to see everything coming together. Even the dreaded budget spreadsheet is starting to look a lot nicer now that things are getting paid off, rather than being in the early booking stage where the bills keep adding up!

With my future hubby interstate most of the time with work, I have done most of the hard yards with the wedding planning (not that I’ve minded!). It’s been so important to have a supportive and enthusiastic group of girls, especially my Maid of Honour, to help me out with afternoons spent hand-stamping endless name tags over much needed glasses of wine, and to come to all those appointments to offer much needed opinions. It’s been amazing to have my own touch on every little detail, and to have shared that with those I love. We (my fiancé and I) both want our wedding to be a true reflection of us – both as individuals and as a couple, and I feel that we have definitely achieved that.

I’ve spent a lot of time attending to the little things – ordering cake toppers (personalised wooden peg dolls from Custom Cao), painstakingly making a backdrop for the ceremony (a hanging garland of hundreds of paper hearts), editing possible readings for the ceremony, hiring lawn games to keep the guests happy while we’re off getting photos, collecting a quirky assortment of science-themed glassware for flower centrepieces (Jay – fiancé – is a geologist) and lots of other personal, special touches that will make the day truly, uniquely us. While it takes a bit of additional time and effort, I highly recommend putting in that little bit extra – I have found it extremely satisfying and a thoroughly enjoyable process which has been worth every second.

In the next few months, I will: have my dress fittings, get a hair and makeup trial, finish drafting the ceremony, get the programs printed, make the seating chart (once the rsvps have arrived), have a few more ‘crafternoons’ with my MoH (making table numbers and a few other odd jobs) and finalise the music lists. Still lots of exciting things to do – but I’m starting to wonder what I will do with myself when it’s over! Any ideas? Any advice for dealing with withdrawal symptoms post-wedding?

Ms Gingham says: I love getting an insight in where our readers are in terms of their wedding planning! Loving the idea of craft days with wine!! As for the post wedding blues…. I’d love to hear what everyone thinks about that! It’s definitely a common symptom.

Teagan says: “I am 26 years old and teach English to high school students. I live in Melbourne and I divide my spare time between marking essays, planning classes, researching wedding ideas and gazing at my sparkly engagement ring, which I am still not used to seeing on my finger! Now that I am finally engaged I feel like a lot of things are falling into place in my life – it’s a very good place to be. “