Norris, like... Chuck Norris

Well, I guess I'm starting a little late in the process to really blog about the 'wedding planning' but geez louise this might be the most stressful part yet! But hopefully this blog will prove to be useful in the future to all our friends and family who live so far away and may wonder how the new happy couple is doing?!

Oh yes, is this the part where I introduce myself? Or should I assume you know who I am if you stumbled upon this blog? Well if not, I am Chelsey Morgan Allen... have been all my life. But in just 33 days I'll be marrying by boyfriend, fiance, friend, and lesser half ( <-- ha) of 9 years... Christopher Matthew Norris. Yep, that deserves a smiley face :)

Planning started kind of difficult, mainly because I probably broke all the new bride rules in planning a wedding. I first was more excited about finding a venue... way before I even considered how many guests we might potentially have. I decided on the Cleveland Park Event Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Not only would it hold 200 people but I loved the atmosphere and surrounding area. We (Matt and I) scrounged up all the change in the sofas and put our down payment on that to hold our date.

Then I contemplated guests, dresses, caterers, decorations, invitations, bridesmaids, and a million other things. Whoever said planning a wedding is fun must of had a never-ending bank account! Ugh!

Then, Christmas Eve of 2010, my sister and I went to a brunch at the Piedmont Club in Spartanburg, SC. We were so graciously invited by our grandparents who we are currently rebuilding our relationship with. It blew me away when they offered to have the reception there, at the Piedmont Club! I can't tell a lie.... I was staring at the walls, tables, curtains, rooms, chairs... everything... imagining how much I would love to celebrate there of all places.

Now I better shout out to the sis. She really stepped up as my Maid of Honor and just blurted, "THIS would be a PERFECT place for a RECEPTION!" Thanks Britt, that worked.

Now, nearly 5 months later.... I am astonished of what has unfolded into, without a doubt, the wedding of my dreams. :)

There were many times where I just had to move something on my to-do list to the VERY last page because I wasn't sure how it was getting done! Matt has been so calm and reassuring throughout the process. He doesn't seem to worry about much, and I'm so sure that, to him, whether or not we got navy blue table overlays or just went with the white, was not truly as much drama as I was making it.
In fact, while I sit here blogging about wedding crud just to ease my mind, blaring potential processional music through my headphones, he's playing 'Crackdown' on XBOX 360. Yep, I knew what I was getting myself into!

Truth be told, the saying is true... if there is anything throughout the process of your planning that you couldn't stand to have it done differently, then put your foot down. Make priorities, breathe, be creative, and remember... at the end of the day... you should be able to say "whew, we did it right."

Some of my favorite things through the planning thus far are:
-our navy blue table overlays (that I most definitely need to sell afterwards $$)
-our pulpboard personalized coasters
-hand making our unity candle
-booking the honeymoon
-getting excited with my bridesmaids
-receiving RSVP's in the mail
-watching my bustle be tied up for the first time

Things I've thoroughly disliked:
-tying ribbons on 200 bubbles
-tying ribbons on 200 invites
-budgeting
-stressing over whether there would be a honeymoon or not
-waiting on RSVP's
-deciding ceremony music
-budgeting
-going to dress fittings alone
-budgeting

After all, it was just last week I snuck on my wedding gown and waltzed around the hallway, standing on the edge of my bathtub just so I could see a full view in the mirror. I'm still nervous... I hope I feel comfortable and I hope I wear it and it doesn't wear me! I think Matt made me nervous when he said,
"So, if I don't like it, do I tell you right when you walk down the aisle to me or do you want me to wait and tell you later."
ha, that's my fiance'!

So today's to-do list consisted of making a final appointment with the D.J. (Carolina Party Professionals) whom of which provided me with a full print out of an order of events for the reception. That really cleared the muddy waters! I mean, I think I've been to only 2 or 3 weddings in my life! One of which, a song was played by none other than THE Celine Dion, and in the program, I read her name, looked over at my mom and excitedly asked, "Is Celine Dion going to be here?" Hey, I was a little girl- give me a break.
But for real, wouldn't that have been awesome?

I digress. Truly, all I want, is to walk away thinking that I wouldn't have changed a thing. Thinking that I'm the new Mrs. Matthew Norris and after 9 years of waiting to hear that, I'm just as thrilled as I thought I would be. Hoping that my new 'husband' (woah, gonna hafta get use to that one) is holding the hand of the woman of his dreams. Hoping that my guests believe in love a little more just by witnessing our event.
Oh. and thinking, that Jamaican sun sure is going to feel good after all this planning is finished! Wooooo!
What do I look forward to most? When helping people understand my new married name, getting to say, "Norris, .... Like Chuck Norris."
If this wasn't enough to make you puke, visit our wedding website.
love and stress,
an anxious bride