Let me start this out by saying, I’ve been putting this off for days now because I had no Idea how I was going to put into words how I felt about all of you. What came out was this. Its long. I know, a lot of my posts usually are. This one’s he longest, but my favorite post I’ve ever written. I love all of you so much and am so lucky and thankful for everything that you have done for me. So Here it is… I have had friends in the past who got married who had said “Oh you better be careful of The Knot… You’ll be on here al the time…” Little did I know almost a year ago that I would stumble upon his little board called Destination Weddings that would change my life. I started posting on my local and no one seemed to get the fact that I was planning a wedding in Mexico… “Mexico’s dirty”, “you’ll get killed” they all said. I posted on the Mexico board with no responses. I was starting to think that I was going to have to go about all this alone because I was choosing not to have a traditional Banquet hall wedding. Then one day I found DW in late January of this year. I was scared to post for a while. Everyone knew each other and seemed like such good friends. I had started to make some “friends” on P&E ( now I know what true knottie friends are). I finally made my first post after about a month of waiting and to my surprise I was accepted into the most supportive and amazing group on TK. I found people that not only understood my wedding choices, but celebrated them. And I learned about a whole bunch of stuff that I never knew I had to have, but also that It was just stuff too, and not to get to stressed out about all of it. When I found out I was pregnant one of my first thoughts was “oh my god I can’t be a DW bride anymore…” . I stayed away for about a week because I was so afraid that I would never get to be apart of what this board is again. It was when my FI asked why I wasn’t on TK - “you tell them everything else, you haven’t told them this yet?” that I decided I needed to “come clean” with all of you. We still had not decided what we were going to do, but with us in Mexico, I knew I needed have you all to lean on, as calling my girlfriends, who didn’t understand a lot of it anyway, was not an option. And you all let me stay. I have to keep stopping because I am crying through this, but the support, advice, praise and excitement that I received from all of you is what got me through the first three months of my pregnancy. I could have been in a lonely dark place while my FI was out all day filming and I was home alone in our house, living in a country where I don’t speak the language and trying to plan a wedding that was supposed to occur in that town, but now in the US. It was really painful walking around in Puerto Escondido, thinking everywhere I looked about wedding plans that would no longer happen. But almost hourly ( because I was so sick all I could do way lay on the couch and knot), you were all there. You were there. I cannot thank you all enough. I know that I am not having the “wedding of my dreams” but I am marrying the man I love, which I know is far more important. And we our having a wedding that is OURS. I think that our board sticks to that principal more than any other board on TK. I feel like all the strong women here remember daily why we are here in the first place. Yes it’s about palm fans and custom water bottles too, but I feel like we all know that at the end of the day it about a Marriage, not a just a Wedding. Again I want to thank all or you for everything you have done. I have been pretty MIA for the last few weeks because of work and planning a wedding in about 3 months gets a little crazy. I know there are a tons of new girls that I have not had a chance to get to know. Good luck with all your plans, and welcome to the board. I think the 2 Most important girls for me to thank first are our amazing Moderators Alison and Natalie. Thank you for stepping up to the plate and keeping us free from crazies, randoms, and drama starters. I am so excited for each of your weddings. Jaye- you keep everything else running and I’m so glad that get to know someone as awesome as you, and for all you sound advice. There are so many Knotties that came before me, and I feel like I’m such a newbie compared to most of you. Paige, Lisa, Courtney, the Ashley’s, Tara, Maria, Kristina, Kristine, Lisa, Natalie, Heather, Natalee and all the Bump and ND Girls. Rose’s was the first Bio I ever looked at on the DW board, and instantly I knew I wanted to be a part of this group. In all honesty, It was her shoes that sold me. All the April and May Brides that had to go through the Swine flu madness, you were so strong to stick with what they had planned and I think they helped calm a lot of the hysteria over all of that. Ashley- Thank You so much for my Veil. I absolutely love it and I am so happy that I get to wear something from another Knottie, especially the one who made me decide I NEEDED a cathedral length. Veil. A HUGE shout out to Normailed who made me my custom Water Bottler labels. Sarah/my lady Bird- Happy wedding day lovely. I am so glad that we got to get close over such a distance and I cant wait to watch you a little bit later today. To the rest of all my September Bride that have come before and are still to come… Brunstar, Kreeves, Natcmb1983, NYHarleyBride and Miami Bride. I feel so proud to be among you and can’t believe our time is here already, and has happened already for some of you. And all those that are coming after me, Tracy, Ashley ( thank you for my starter ) Lori, Beachybride10, drm6285, Isis, AprilTJ, Lisa, Misty, Natalie, Marci, Sara, Jsbb2010, Leslie, Gina, Jamie, Celeste and Finally Teresa,, (and all the other girls that I know I forgot, I’m so sorry. I am thinking of you right now too…) Everyone always says to do your DIY's early, spread it out so you are not doing it last minute. I did take a time out from everything and went on a Boat ride with FI on Sat morning. It has made such a difference. Take time to do one big non WR thing with your FI BEFORE you leave. To my SoCal girls- Sarlah and Cindy… We need to meet up I will page you girls next week. We need a g2g asap! And thank you both for all your support, ideas and vendor recs. And last but not least Ashley for doing the KK for so long and now Shelli- Thank you girls so much for carring on this awesome tradition. I am on my way to the PO to pick it up now. Shelli- you were there for me when I was so sick in Mexico I could barely even post. When you first came on this board I was like who is this lady that’s getting married on my Island. Nad then I met you and you are a truly an wonderful lady, mother and friend- to all of us, our “Precious Shelli”. Ok I have to stop this and finish all my projects… I am getting Married in 4 days, and going on down to my hotel w/ all my other guests to the tomorrow AM. I cannot believe I am about to write this… BUT… I’ll Catch you on the flip side ladies. I love you!!!!!!!!
K+S 9.18.9 | DD #1 age 2 | PG # 5 EDD 9.17.12