8 Things No One Tells You About Being Engaged

As many of you know, Sean and I got married almost 3 months (!) ago. Now that I've had some distance from the whole "being engaged" thing, I wanted to write a little ditty for those of you who are engaged or expect to be sometime soon. Now, let me warn you. This is some real life wisdom I'm about to impart. No sugar-coating here. So...you know. You've been informed.
Without further adieu, here are 8 things no one tells you about being engaged!

1. You will immediately be asked when your wedding day is.
Seriously...like, as soon as you mention your engagement. It doesn't matter if you've been engaged for thirty seconds, you will be asked. And have an answer prepared or else expect some awkward stuttering on your part and then watch their interest fade away as you try and remember the question.

2. Everyone is suddenly an expert on weddings. 
You'll hear stories and advice (both solicited and not) from friends, family, coworkers, cashiers, people in the street, your mailman, pretty much anyone who has been married or knows someone who got married will tell you all about what "you should do". (As in, -GASP- "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD DO?!!)

3. Your fiance might not care, and that's okay. 
I really thought Sean would be one of those guys who would want to plan the whole thing with me, but he just was not interested. He knew and trusted that I would make everything look beautiful and so he stood behind me with support and encouragement, while I hot-glued our way to a great wedding. This doesn't mean he didn't care about the wedding or engagement. He's just not a crafty guy.
(Example: I asked him once, why don't you give me any ideas or anything? What if I wanted our entire wedding to be hot pink and zebra print??" And he said, "But I know that you wouldn't and I trust you to make it represent us in the best way.") Everyone has their talents and I'd rather Sean be honest than not.

4. You'll want to say, "fuck it." So many times.
By the end of, and most likely throughout, your engagement you will want to throw all your wedding stuff into a fire and dance around it with joy as you wait for them to call your name at the courthouse.

5. That being said, you will also reject the idea of hiring a wedding planner and then regret it later.
If you're inviting over 75 people, hire a wedding planner. It will be the very best decision you make because the stress, and it will come if it hasn't already, will not be worth it. The wedding planner is to the wedding what the epidural is to the labor. Or so I would imagine.

6. Your in-laws will reveal their true colors.
Whether those colors are pretty or ugly, you will know by the end of it.

7. Feelings will be hurt.
You will be told who to invite and more awkwardly, you will have people ask you why they weren't invited. There is no way around it: If you want to have a great, stress-free wedding, invite who you want and forget the rest. Don't let anyone bully you into inviting certain people. It's your day and one you will remember for the rest of your life. You don't want to look back and remember being surrounded by people that you didn't care much for or even know. Feelings will be hurt either way.

8. You will be told that your engagement, "goes by so fast" and it's true.
Although there will be many days when it feels like its taking forever, by the time the wedding begins, it has already ended and you're back at home looking around your same-old apartment and feeling withdrawals from realizing that its all over. So be happy, excited, and I encourage you to plan, plan, plan! This (is supposed to anyway) only happens once in a lifetime!

And when you feel like it's too much or you're ready to rip your hair out, just look over at that beautiful almost-spouse of yours and really force yourself to remember they are all worth it.