Tying the knot!!

I think I could write a different love letter to Dan every single day for the rest of my life, and that is why I'm so happy to announce that we are tying the knot next year!! There has been a lot of controversy over our wedding plans, so feel free to give me some input if I'm really so far out of line.

Dan and I have been talking about our eventually-hypothetical-future wedding for about 8 months. The original plan was to set up 30ish rented chairs in someone's yard or a park and only invite our closest friends/family. Well... we were at Gas Works Park in the wee hours of the morning on 9/11 (romantic, I know lol) just looking at the city lights across the water. We were sitting on a bench and joking about how funny it would be if we found a minister that dressed as Santa or something ridiculous, since we both agree that ceremonies are only for other people. He asked me if I was serious about making it happen, then dropped onto his knee and pulled out the ring. It was the happiest, most romantic moment of my life. I am the happiest girl in the world to be marrying my best friend.

Apparently, girls grow up dreaming about their wedding. I must have missed the feminine gene that is in charge of that part. Walking down an aisle in a huge white dress while looking at my female friends/family already on stage wearing even more lame dresses, holding flowers, stepping to wedding music, and then having the most intimate conversation of my life in front of 250 friends/family... doesn't sound like fun to me. Seems sort of archaic and old fashioned. Guess that makes me a non-conformist.

A lot has changed in the last 8 months since we first started talking about wedding plans. After a week of shock and premarital bliss, we decided that it really is a very intimate moment for us... we don't want to be a show. Eloping would have been our ideal wedding so that it could be just us, a minister, and the witness. It would be filmed and shown at our huge reception in WA where everyone can celebrate with us. Apparently... there "will be issues" if certain family members aren't present at the ceremony. We modified our entire plan and decided to get married in a local park and invite parents only. This must be a very hard concept to grasp because now siblings are getting upset over not being invited. Combined, we have 6 siblings. If everyone shows up with their significant other plus kids... I'm right back where I started - throwing 30 rental chairs in a park.

I don't understand why people need to make it all about themselves and what they think a wedding should be... It's our special once-in-a-lifetime moment. I think I should be able to tell them how it's going to be, and let them conform around it. I understand that it means a lot to others to be present when vows are given, but it means nothing to us to have them there. People can celebrate with us at bachelor/bachelorette parties and reception, but please, please, just let us have our special moment alone with just husband and wife.

All I care about is my best friend- my husband. That's all I really wanted, and I wish that's all I could have.