Countdown Checklist: 9 months

Today marks my first important landmark in the world of wedding planning: the 9-month mark. Woohoo, getting closer! This means I have precisely less time to finish planning my wedding than it takes to make a baby. Yeah, that's right. I said it. Well bring it on, baby. Bring it!

One of the more helpful checklists I've encountered amongst the barrage of wedding checklists out there comes from one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple Weddings. These people have a way of laying it all out there without feeling too busy, overwhelming, and scary, which is probably exactly why I keep referencing their books so often.


So since 10/30/10 is 9 months away as of today, here's a peek at how I'm faring so far with the planning according to Real Simple's "Sixteen to Nine Months Before" checklist:

• Start a wedding folder or binder. Tear out pages that inspire you... Oh, you know I'm all over this organizational shizz, for real. Check!
  

• Work out your budget. Determine how much you have to spend and how much your families are kicking in. This was definitely one of the more uncomfortable to-do's, and it's one that you have to deal with very first in order for everything else to fall into place. Merging two families' values and expenses can be a trip, but we managed to pull through. Check, for this one too.
  

• Build your wedding party. Darn. Wish I could say we have this down, too, but when it comes to Clay's friends, there's no logical division; he's close with everyone! It took some time to convince him that 10 groomsmen and 10 bridesmaids is not exactly kosher. We're getting close, though, and I think will eventually settle on the traditional 2-6 number for each side.
  

• Settle on a head count. Ah, after the money, the hardest part of the planning. Especially when the bride is a champion for small and the groom knows no limits. I wish we could invite everyone we know! But rule of thumb for saving money on a wedding is to keep your numbers down. This may take a few more weeks for us.
  

• Hire a planner, if desired. Do I count as my own? Let's go with yes. Check.
  

• Book your date and venues. Yes! 10.30.2010 at Allan House in Austin, TX. Check, check!
  

• Book your officiant. We have an idea of who we want: Clay's Uncle Claude, who also officiated Clay's sister Courtney's beautiful wedding in the Bahamas last spring. We both like the idea of having a family member unite us. Just need to make that official phone call. :: Fingers crossed that he's in! ::
  

• Research photographers, bands, florists, and caterers. See answer to #1. Research + organization = my cup of tea. Check!
  

• Insert the name of vendors and their contact information into a master contact list. Rinse and repeat. Check!
  

• Throw an engagement party, if you like. Eh, I'm not too concerned about this one. There will be so many bridal showers, couples showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc. that what's one more to the mix? We will do plenty of partying this year, I promise.
  

How did I do? 6 out of 10. Hey, I'll take it! Some of these I'll probably have nailed down in the next week or so, anyway, so I'm a little better off than the numbers suggest.

Every time I check something off the ol' list, I always get a certain rush, because it means I'm that much closer to the big day. I'm getting married!! (Sorry. Sudden outbursts like that happen sometimes.) I have a feeling the next 9 months are going to fly by.