The Mrs. Signs Off

Jess writes her last post as she starts her life as a newlywed!

By Jessica Solloway

When the opportunity came along to blog about my wedding many months ago, the big day seemed so far away. And now it's pretty hard to believe I'm a married lady, and this is my last post as "The Dubious Bride".

At first I couldn't imagine having something to write about every single week. But I quickly learned that wedding planning is a non-stop whirlwind that's fun, stressful, exciting, and hectic all in one. From showers to shoe shopping, dress fittings to invitations, there's always something to write about.

I hope that reading my blog has helped you handle the ups, downs and everything in between that comes along with wedding planning. It's not always easy or fun, but it's certainly a once in a lifetime experience.

The most important thing I learned is to just step back and appreciate everything that you're going through (even the things that are less appealing, like staying in on a Friday night to do seating charts, or cutting carbs to look great into your dress). While you'll be faced with hard decisions, (like narrowing down the guest list or foregoing something because it's not in your budget), if you just learn to roll with the punches and choose not to sweat the small stuff, it's pretty great. In the whole scheme of things, what makes your wedding day amazing won't come down to just one thing, like the chairs, food, or flowers.

It's about creating a day to celebrate you and your new husband starting a life together, and sharing that happy milestone with your close friends and family. One of my favorite cards we received was from one of Seth's family members, who told us she is "not a wedding person". But she wrote, "Watching the two of you, your family and your friends ... I felt I was experiencing a love fest at its most genuine level." (She's a professor, who certainly has a way with words.)

I think someone calling my wedding a genuine "love fest" is a better compliment than liking my flowers or the band. It meant that we created a warm, inviting, special day for everyone that was there. And that's what really makes a wedding great.

So now that my big day has come and gone, I am learning the ins and outs of life as a newlywed. So far, so good!

Next week you'll meet the next "DB"! The adorable Jessa is a fellow Clevelander that I am lucky to have gotten to know this past year thanks to some mutual friends. Since she works in the event planning industry, she already has a leg up on this huge endeavor. I have no doubt that she'll take you along for a fun-filled ride as she plans her wedding. I hope you follow her journey, I know I will!

Thanks so much for sharing my wedding planning experience. Good luck with yours! Xoxo - Jess