Sarah will be marrying Rich on 19th June 2022 at Tikitano Beach, Marbella, Spain. Click here to read all Sarah’s planning posts to date.
THREE FACTS: (1) Sarah knew Rich was the one when he brought a gift of dog treats for her toy poodle Nuala along to their fourth date! (2) They are crafting an amazing destination wedding weekend in Marbella with beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended vendor optimum weddings as their planner. (3) Sarah is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!
As I sat down to write this, my last blog as a blogging bride for Smashing the Glass (I will still be a member of Brides Club), I took a quick minute to reflect on the past two years. I say two years because that was when I first became a blogging bride and signed up to Brides Club. I was full of excitement talking about all things wedding related, learning about dress fabrics, booking dress shopping appointments, booking flights to Spain to find our wedding planner and venue and creating multiple spreadsheets to keep track of the infamous wedding budget. It was summer 2019 and it is safe to say that I had no idea what 2020 would bring!
So, on that note let’s take a little trip down memory lane and reminisce on the good, the bad and the lessons I have learned over the past two years!
Things Don’t Always Go to Plan but That’s Ok!
Richard and I were meant to get married in June 2020 and unsurprisingly it didn’t happen. It was then rescheduled to June 2021 and I can’t help but smile as I remember my optimism and naivety in thinking that Covid would be over by the end of 2020! Our wedding is now going to be in June 2022 and I cannot wait! When we rescheduled for the first time in March 2020 the fear of being out of control, not knowing the trajectory of this virus and having everything go the opposite of “to plan” was honestly terrifying. I am used to being in control, being able to make miracles happen and defy the odds through tenacity and sheer determination, but in this case my determination was not a match for a worldwide pandemic!
I was upset, emotional, felt cheated, let down by the world and it was far from my finest time. The truth is, as human beings we are used to being able to take control of a situation and navigate it to suit our desires and needs. The reality is that when this control is unexpectedly snatched away from us, we are helpless. However, I think that there is an important lesson to be learned from this, and I have certainly used it to take a slightly more backseat approach to life’s unwinnable challenges. Yes, I will always fight to be able to maintain control of a project or even life, but in fact, it is less about knowing how to control your life and more about being able to adapt to it when you encounter the inevitable speedbump. Any bride who has weathered the Covid wedding planning storm will be well equipped to deal with any sudden curve ball which is thrown their way, and I say that with 100% confidence!
When Life Gives You Lemons Make Lemonade!
If I had a jar filled with pound coins for every time I had a negative thought over the past two years, I would have a very healthy amount of savings by now! It’s ok to feel down, to have negative thoughts and feel fed up because we are humans and we are allowed to feel whatever we want. However, one of the things which has really got me through this pandemic is finding the positive in every situation. Sometimes you do need to look a lot harder to find them, but they will always be there. Then there are those wonderful and unexpected positives which present themselves to you, just when you least expect them!
One of those (and my favourite to one to date) was that it was through this pandemic that I found my new dream job as a wedding and event planner with STG recommended provider and my very own wedding planners, Optimum Weddings. Had the pandemic not happened then I would in all likelihood still be working in Law and completely oblivious to the wonderful world of wedding planning. I now have the best boss, work with the loveliest co-workers who I just adore. I wake up daily and thank my lucky stars that I get to work with amazing people within such a friendly, creative and hardworking community.
Another positive was that despite postponing our wedding for the second time being incredibly difficult, it meant that our original toastmaster, Jamie Paskin was now available, so maybe it was meant to be! There have been so many positives over the past two years and I think that I have learned to be more grateful each time I encounter one.
Appreciating Life
I was walking through Queens Park today and it was filled with children playing, live music and a children’s fair. People were smiling, laughing, dancing and enjoying life. Before this pandemic I would never have taken a moment to stop and appreciate an “everyday” scene because it was a given. Now, it is a moment to stop, take time to absorb it, to be grateful to be alive and to be grateful to be able to laugh and dance in the sunlight with other people (socially distanced of course!) once again.
I now always look forward to going out for dinner, seeing my friends and family, going into the shops just because I can, and drinking my coffee at a table outside a café because it’s allowed. Those things seem so minor but they were all taken away from us and from that I now appreciate all of them so much more. I have learned what I really need to buy and what is non-essential, the meaning of a good bargain (especially on face masks!) and I would like to think that society will have become less materialistic and more grounded as a result of this pandemic.
The same applies to our wedding. Yes, I had always wanted my big wedding but I never imagined that it would be taken away three months before it was meant to happen or that we would end up having a three-year engagement. When it does happen next year, I won’t take it for granted because so many people lost out on having their dream weddings and I will appreciate it in a way I never thought I would. The part I will appreciate the most? Seeing my friends and family dancing, holding hands, hugging, laughing, being healthy and being alive.
Throughout this pandemic too many lives were lost, so many businesses collapsed and mental health issues have become increasingly more prevalent. Looking back over that sentence, it makes me realise just how lucky I am to be sitting here in my home, the afternoon sun beaming in through the bay windows, sipping on a cup of tea as I write this blog. It is appreciating these small moments which have become new for me, but I hope will stay because this is really appreciating life.
Looking to the Future
I wish I had a glass ball to look into and predict the future…actually I used to wish I had one, now I am happy just to go through life and experience it without the need to predict all of it. I don’t know what the future holds but I do know that I will get to marry my handsome Richard because we love each other and nothing will change that. I am sure we will have plenty of adventures, some planned and some spontaneous and I know that we will appreciate being happy, healthy and in love. I know that I will get to wear my beautiful wedding dress and have my Cinderella moment, albeit hopefully not losing a shoe in the process!
This final blog may not be about anything particularly wedding related per se, but I have written plenty of those for you over the past two years and you can find them in the STG archives. This one is a farewell from a more mature and positive bride to be. One who has made it through the eye of the storm and come out more grounded, more knowledgeable about my own limits and more appreciative for the things and the people who I love.
So, what advice would I give to people who have just got engaged? Obviously plan your wedding the way you want it, but be prepared to encounter hiccups and more importantly realise that in all likelihood it won’t go perfectly to plan because nothing ever does and that is ok and will make it even more special! However, if you are looking for someone to plan it then be sure to let me know as I would love to be able help you navigate this journey both as your wedding planner and an experienced “Covid Bride”! I have put my optimum weddings work Instagram handle (as well as my personal one) below.
On that note, all that is left is to say thank you. Thank you, Smashing the Glass, for being a great platform which allowed me to write down my personal trials and tribulations and share them, whilst acting as a sort of sounding board and therapist at the same time. I feel as though I took all of you on my wedding planning journey with me and that has been a real honour. The positive support, the comments, the community and the feedback have been invaluable and so much appreciated.
What are my final words? Bring on the 19th June 2022 when I finally get to marry my love on the beach in Marbella in front of everyone we love.
Stay safe, stay positive and make sure you take time to dance, laugh, enjoy and appreciate life!
Sarah x
Click here to read all Sarah’s planning posts to date.
Sarah and Rich’s Wedding Vendors :
Venue – Tikitano Beach
Welcome Party Venue – Besaya Beach
Photographer – Nani De Perez
Videographer – Antonio De Perez
Wedding Planner – optimum weddings {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Dress – Mirror Mirror London {offers £200 discount for veil and accessory purchases over £400 to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Videographer – Antonio De Perez
Stationery – Simcha Invitations
Chuppah singer – JJ Hodari
Band – One Entertainment
Hair – Alex Harrocks
Makeup – Ella Megan
Welcome Party – at Besaya Beach
Toastmaster – Jamie Paskin
Post Aufruf Lunch Caterer – Karen Harris
Photo Shoot and London Civil Ceremony Photographer – Paul Toeman
Civil Ceremony Venue – The Old Marylebone Town Hall
Civil Ceremony Celebratory Lunch Venue – The Savoy Hotel
Flowers – Unique Flowers by Roberto Silvosa
Bridesmaids Dresses – TFNC
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