Confessions of a Real Arkansas Bride: Can We Just Elope?

Halfway through wedding planning and stressing and crying over your dream wedding, how many of you brides just wanted to throw in the towel, head to the nearest chapel and say “I do” without all the fuss and fanfare? I think it’s a feeling most brides (and grooms) have at one time or another during the planning process.

I’ve felt that way since before I was even engaged.

Zach and I want to celebrate with our friends and family, but the thought of planning a reception gives me anxiety attacks. We want an emotional, heartfelt, memorable ceremony, but the idea of standing in front of 300 people and saying the most important words I’ve ever said makes me want to pass out, cry or lose control of my bladder. (I have terrible stage fright, which leads to stammering, sweating and uncontrollable shaking. Not the kind of memorable ceremony we were going for…)

To be honest, it makes me want to elope. Isn’t your wedding supposed to be the happiest day of your life? With that in mind, Zach and I decided to keep the focus of our wedding day on one very important thing: the commitment we’re making to one another and how much it means to us.

It sounds simple (and cheesy, I know), but it’s difficult to remember when you’re making decisions about linens, flowers, registries, invites, venues, shoes, music, vows, and a thousand other details. For everything we do, we ask ourselves “Is this decision going to make us happy on our wedding day?” If the answer is no, we just don’t do it.

Which brings me back to this—the big wedding is out. Goodbye. Adios. Ciao. See ya never.

But we can’t elope either (you’re welcome, Mom). So we compromised. We’ll have a small ceremony with our parents and siblings, and throw a big, blowout bash to celebrate with the rest of our family and friends a month or two later.

For the rest of you brave gals planning your dream day–whether it’s an elopement to a tropical beach or a fabulous ballroom affair–I hope you keep doing what makes you and your husband-to-be happy and joyful on your wedding day.

Best of luck!
-Blair

Bride-to-be Blair Tidwell, a Malvern native and NYU journalism graduate, is the associate editor of Little Rock Family magazine. She’ll be blogging about her adventures in wedding planning for Arkansas Bride right here, each week. She welcomes your comments below or via email at BTidwell@ABPG.com.

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