Monday, December 14, 2009

#687: my last post.

so. what's really the best way to do this? i'm clearly not planning my wedding anymore and without any personal wedding goals, it's been tough to keep this blog going.

clearly.

i'm not very good at ending things, especially when i'm kind of like really attached. i just sulk. and think about it. and then think about it some more, knowing the inevitable, still hopeful for another outcome.

this blog has treated me kind for so long and i've been writing without pretense for a few wonderfully fun and enlightening years. can i say grateful. and super attached.

there are things i'll remember forevs. like my first post on TTO (toads clueless) and how like 500+ posts later i'd somehow become like this bonafide wedding blogger (me. bonafide. ha.)

the blogger friends out there who are some of the strongest, wittiest women i've ever met.

the loads and loads of creativity and encouragement this little world here has to offer to blogger brides.

and now i have to say goodbye? WHAT.

but this blog was about my journey, my successes and failures as i tried to plan a $10,000 wedding. and now that i've been there and done that (like 7 months ago), i don't have much to say anymore.

lame. so that said, here's the last bit.

weddings, no matter how you slice it and dice it, will tug at your heart strings and push your buttons. you're emotional because you're thinking about your families and what this shabang will mean for them, you're emotional because you're excited about the new family you're about to build, you're emotional because all of your besties are there to support you, you're emotional because there's a lot to do and you're kind of like just stressed the eff out, you're emotional because you find yourself walking that fine line between keeping everyone happy and being true to yourself...

...you're emotional because you're committing to f.o.r.e.v.e.r with that one amazing person...and want the wedding to be that kind of perfect...

it's just one day. but it's significant, you know?

so amidst the flurry, should things ever get a little hairy or overwhelming, take a step back and remember what it's all about. (hint: it's not about cake flavors or wedding dresses.)

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - maya angelou


i had to remind myself every now and then...what mattered to me, who mattered to me, and what the day itself meant to me. in the end, not everything made sense to everyone, but it absolutely made sense to me, to my husband, and to our loved ones.

and on the day of, we were fortunate enough to experience tender love, true joy, and hours of uninhibited dancing.

so this is me, wishing all of you the same and more during planning and on your wedding day.

and in life.

ok?


photo by max.

it's been real.

xo

74 comments:

mr tto said...

indeed...

Emily Takes Photos said...

We'll miss you. Thanks for the ride.

cupcake wedding said...

This blog really helped me when I started planning. Thank you so much and good luck with your future endeavors.

courtney said...

I'm not going to lie, I am really sad you won't be posting anymore, but I completely understand.

But before you go I wanted to say..
thanks so much for posting about my work (still means a lot!) and please keep in touch!

Stephanie said...

I get it. And well said.

In reading your blog, I found understanding & laughs when I needed it most. You rock. Enjoy married life.

Rachel said...

Oh, so lovely. You'll be missed. Make sure to drop by now and then.

jessica lynn said...

so sad to see you go!!! :) thank you for the inspiration you have been to the wedding industry! :)

heidzilla said...

bravo! well said x 687. this was a super blog, kudos!

talda said...

aww, i'm sad to see you step away but i totally understand. it's time to move on to that next phase. i wish you nothing but the very best in life and an eternal thank you for sharing a bit of your world with us.

BR said...

Sharing your story may be over but there's so much left to come. I hope the memories of your journey last your entire lifetime!

Skeeta said...

I got married around the same time you did and followed ur blog religously. Thanks for all of the inspiration and helping to keep us grounded. I had a simplistically beautifal beach wedding with a restaurant dinner and I can say you inspired much of it.

Thanks and best of luck with everything. ;o)

Kathryn said...

Thank you for everything you've put into this blog. All of my best wishes to you!

Skeeta said...

My wedding was around the same time as yours and I followed ur blog religously. Thanks for helping to keep us grounded and for all of your lovely ideas. I had a beautiful simple beach wedding and a restaurant dinner. Thanks for inspiring so many brides to stay true to themselves and not get caught up in this wedding frenzy thing.

Best and luck and thanks again. ;o)

the handmade hipster said...

Wait, are you really throwing us in? FOREVER? What about blogging about your married life, or featuring folks still planning their own weddings? What?

Jenn said...

You will be missed!

eliza said...

thanks for writing, you will be missed!

Unknown said...

aww... we'll miss you! best of luck :)

p.s. i love that maya angelou quote... i just might have to reuse it.

LPC said...

Goodbye! You've been great.

ALP said...

We'll miss you! Best of luck on whatever you do next.

The Professional Bridesmaid said...

It's been pleasure following you on your wedding journey. Your writing style is witty, real and incredibly funny. I've had a blast! All the best to you!

Encore Bride said...

Thank you for sharing your journey with us, I wish you the best in all your future endeavors and if you ever feel like writing again, please come back!

Anonymous said...

Good luck and happy times for your future. :) And some of us will check back, probably, hoping that you've posted a link to whatever new project you're working on. :) Take care, it's been fun reading.

style-for-style said...

Will you be blogging about anything else?

leni said...

why dont you find other people trying to have $10,000 weddings and turn your blog over to them?!

Mrs T said...

Oh I got little goosebumps reading this. Please say you're starting another blog... pretty please.

Thanks for these words of wisdom, 16 days out, I really needed to read them!

Liana said...

aw can't believe this is it, but its been good reading your blog. I'm still in the very early stages of wedding planning but am glad to be able to reread your blog in the future...wait - will we be able to read archives still??? please say yes!
Thanks again!

buhdoop said...

Awesome run TTO, thank you for taking us along for the ride.

Smomo said...

Thank you for everything you have put into your blog, it has really meant something.
Hope to see you back some day posting passionately about something else

Jessica @ Mason Jar Bride said...

So sad to see you go. TTO was one of the first blogs I started reading. but I totally get it. Even 2 months after our wedding, I have less and less to say, and I kinda don't want to sit there and analyze our wedding. I just want to remember it and love it and let it be. Thank you for sharing your process, it was helpful in a million ways. Love and joy to you and your hubs...

Anonymous said...

why not pass along your blog to another 10,000 bride?

Desiree and Ben said...

this made me very sad. :(

Anonymous said...

best of luck with the rest of your life. I wish you all the happiness life has to offer. May you & your *husband* grow old together

TheresaSea said...

Well said! Thank you for your inspiration, and letting me peek into your planning to help me start planning mine. Here's wishing you a future filled with a blissful marriage! :)

foodinfatuation said...

please don't delete this blog! At least not before the end of next year when I have my wedding so that I can come back to it time and again when I'm stressing out lol.

PlannedSpontaneity said...

we'll miss you!

Tia said...

thanks for sharing. I appreciated being able to read your story

Justine said...

good luck in the future! it's been amazing reading through your ride. thank you!!!

Kelly said...

I'm sad to see you go! Your blog has done wonderful things and I wish you all the best! We won't mind if you blog an update on life now and then completely unrelated to weddings. promise.

Julie Ann said...

Awww, sad to see you go...
I was among the many others who referred many times to your blog for my own wedding. Thanks for sharing your creativity and honesty with us!

GalFromAway said...

I'm fairly new to your blog - I'm sad you're going to stop writing, but I'll be going back through your past entries to see what neat things you did. :)

Hope your next chapter is a fun one!

dee said...

That was beautiful.

Born to be Mrs. Beever said...

Oh wow...what a monumental event. Though I just recently joined the blogging world, I have to admit that I really appreciated you and all you wrote about. I can tell from the many comments and followers you have that you will be missed for sure. But what great words of encouragement, advice and love to leave as your legacy here. :) Best wishes to you!

Amber said...

Good luck with wherever you take yourself in the future, any plans for another blog or website of a different theme? You clearly have a knack for this...and I do this for a living so I really mean it. :)

reese.h said...

simply, thank you!

AnnC said...

Lovely "good bye" post... thanks for everything !

ami @ elizabeth anne designs said...

good luck with everyone and we'll always be here if you want to come back! xoxo

organic baby crib said...

Thanks for all the posts and all the inspirations that you shared with us. We will miss you a lot! I want to wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!

Anonymous said...

Well...*sigh*. I'll miss reading your blog. A lot. Thanks for sharing, and allowing me to lend a millinery hand, and for being an inspiration to so many people planning their weddings. Be well!

east side bride said...

whoa.

SuperDave @ Temple of Groom said...

Thank you! You're an inspiration. I really enjoyed your journey, thanks for letting us join you along the way.

{The Perfect Palette} said...

great post. thansk for sharing. great advice.

A Los Angeles Love said...

You inspired me back when I was unengaged and starting out on my LA wedding research. I felt less crazy that someone else was doing the same thing, on the same nutso budget goal (hahahaha) and then sharing her process with the world. I've loved your blog, your journey, and your ultimate insights. Thank you for sharing. You helped make blogland a better place.

Meg said...

Ah. One more thing left undone. You owe me a wedding graduate post. I'm making you stick to that one.

After all, I wouldn't be where I am now without you.

xoxo
M

PS and Indeed.

Austin Parkar said...

Yes definitely we will miss you. Good luck for your beautiful future.

Pregnancy Week by Week | Detox Solution | Natural Healing | Wedding Singer

that girl. said...

thank you so much for this blog. i have just now begun my plunge into wedding planning, and found your blog and have already received so much from it. thank you for the tears, the beauty, and [of course] the ideas. im sure there will be a new blog around the corner for you[right?]

LB said...

Found you last week. I hate to see you go, but I know you have a higher calling.

Robin said...

so I've never read your blog before, but just came across it. it has been interesting reading it (in the last hour) backwards. I've got 5 months until mine and enjoy all the blogs I can get my hands on.

very cute. love it.

erica said...

hope to see you around the blogosphere...

little luxury list said...

Wow. It's been awesome. Hope you had fun and keep it real.

noir_intelligista said...

CAN YOU PASS THE TORCH TO ME? I want to challenge myself to a 10000 wedding too, and im not even engaged yet....

Your journey was beautiful, and I dont think that this blog has to end here... there are more brides who want a practical wedding!

HolidayTrees said...

Good luck! Maybe start another blog?

Leila said...

Thanks for the great advice

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great advice

Unknown said...

After following your journey only recently,it makes me sad to think this was your last post. However, I just wanted to say that your wit and charm impressed me to the fullest. Your wedding was beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Mrs. P said...

I've kept your blog bookmarked for quite some time. thank you for your wit..your last post really means a lot! so true. all the best for a wonderful future!

-k5 becomes a bride

Paperbella said...

so sad to see this go : ( This has been such a great read, thank you for sharing.

Wedding Favour Boxes said...

enjoyed reading your posts so much :)

Good luck in all you do in the future and have a wonderful life together.

Sarah said...

Thanks for the great time though!

Figlet said...

"i'm not very good at ending things, especially when i'm kind of like really attached. i just sulk. and think about it. and then think about it some more, knowing the inevitable, still hopeful for another outcome."

You phrased that perfectly for me. I know you weren't referring to people, but that's how I am...

Thanks.

east side bride said...

miss you :O

Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants said...

What a lovely final post. I will link to it on my blog so that all current brides-to-be might see how they will look back and reflect on their wedding day after it's all over. Thanks so much for sharing this.

amys painted house and more said...

Sounds like in the end you had a great event. That's what matters most! What great memories were made.

Wedding Photographer Vegas said...

Oh the stress of getting married! It may be tough getting through but it will all be worth it.

Amberdawn said...

I'm just starting a wedding blog. Maybe now that you've finished, you could do a married life blog? Good luck in any case :)