going in circles...

You would think that with Gordon and I being such organized planners, that wedding planning would be an exciting project to take on. I mean, I’ve had the privilege of standing in a couple weddings as a bridesmaid and helped out with numerous other weddings so I’ve been a witness to the wedding planning process. Gordon has also attended numerous weddings and even was a reception coordinator once.

But already less than a week of being engaged, we’re stressing. Where do we start?

Where should the wedding be?
We want a pretty outdoor ceremony, but there are virtually no places in Houston that offer that. On the other hand, there are tons of places in the Austin hill country. BUT, our parents and home church is in Houston.

When should we get married?
We would like to be married a couple months before the fall (in case Gordon starts seminary), but there are a TON of people getting married next year before July!

How many people should we invite?
We would like a small intimate setting, but what do you do when your parents are friends with the whole Taiwanese community in Houston or friends with a ton of people at church AND they’re helping to pay for the wedding? We really want to honor our parents for raising us and supporting us...

What kind of wedding do we want? Destination? Big wedding in Houston? Small wedding in Houston? 1 or 2 receptions? Elope?
No destination wedding because if we’re going to spend the money, we want as many people as possible to witness the joyous union that God has blessed. Gordon and I do not have a money tree so big wedding in Houston might be beyond our means. Small wedding in Houston would mean that we would have to go through that uncomfortable process of cutting a lot of people off our invite list. 1 big informal reception and 1 small fancy reception would again subject us to the uncomfortable process of choosing who is invited to which reception. Eloping is looking more appealing as the wedding planning progresses…

All of those questions are tied together…they all depend on each other…so that’s why we don’t even know where to start…we keep going in circles!

But, this process has encouraged Gordon and I to pray together more…in the car, over the phone, or when we’re just sitting around…asking God to help us keep our focus on what’s important…glorifying Him who has blessed us so much and who has great plans for us beyond this one-day celebration.