Tag: destination wedding

Wedding Planning: What’s a budget?

So I think I’m going to spontaneously combust.

Not because I want to, but that’s just how I feel after trying to calculate a budget for this wedding. Because it seems to have mysteriously doubled overnight without my permission.

And yes, it was our decision to have a destination ceremony and reception. And yes, it was ultimately our decision to invite 100 people – this is still debatable though because parental influence plays a huge roll on the family invite list.

And yes, there are many other things that, in the end, are our decision.

That doesn’t change the fact that I want to spontaneously combust.

I’m not having a bridezilla moment…
I’m just having a ‘life crisis, I’m broke ass’ moment.

And it’s really stressful. Especially when you’re trying to crunch numbers and you think you’re doing a decent job at saving and budgeting, but then more things pop up that you forgot to consider. Like the church donation. Or, photo permits. Or, transportation. Or, even something as simple as a guest book and seating chart.

Every little thing costs.
And then on top of that, for bae and me, every other little thing needs to be converted to Euros.
And the Euro sucks right now. Major suckage.

Wallet: Valentino

Is this something we should have really planned for?
Yes.
Could we have started saving for this a long time ago? Like even before our engagement?
Yes.
Are there areas we can cut costs?
Most definitely, yes.

But a lot of things in life that happen are unforeseen.

Sometimes you just really aren’t prepared.
Period.

Kind of like studying for an exam. Whether you’ve studied a full week, or crammed the night before, you can still walk into that exam room, read the first question and your mind just goes blank. And no matter how hard you try, you really can’t remember any sh*t you studied, for the life of you.

So how am I coping?
To be honest, I really have no idea. I’m just taking things day by day. And trying to check things off my list as they come.

I’m usually great at saving and setting affordable goals, but this wedding was something that started off small and kind of exploded. And now it’s at a number that scares me.

But I know we can do it. We’ll be okay.

And yes, the next couple of months are going to be all about the hustle. Or praying we win the lottery. Because realistically, this wedding is more than we can afford, but we’re going to get’er done. It’s something we both want and we’re all about the positive vibes right now. And I’m positively certain we’ll win the lottery jackpot before the wedding. Might as well try to put that out there to the universe.

At the end of the day, money comes and goes. Obviously, it’s preferable that we have money… and lots of it, but if this wedding is costing more than we thought, then we’ll just have to work 10 times harder. Whether it’s in the next couple of months, or the next couple of years after our wedding. We know there will be times when we’ll have an abundance of income. And times when we may be strapped for cash.

C’est la vie.

This is in no way shape or form my life advice for the world. These are my thoughts for my life and what works for me and how I’m choosing to go about things.
Is it ideal? Maybe not.

Though, you only have one life.
So, really… what’s a budget?

xo
Stephanie

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For more pictures, follow me on Instagram @s_pasquali!

May 27, 2018
Wedding Planning: The Beginning

It’s official!

I’m getting married!

This may be old news to some, but I think it’s the first time I’m officially posting about it. I just didn’t want to mention anything until we confirmed our date and planning has begun.

That being said…

Today marks 1 year to the day that bae got down on one knee and proposed! And I kid you not when I say our experience was exactly how it you would see it in the movies.

Everything fell into place perfectly… except maybe my outfit. Though I wouldn’t dare change a thing… Future post to come about our engagement story and I’ll divulge all the deets.

Anywho…
For a while I was living off the engagement high. Re-telling the story until people were sick of hearing it. Flashing my ring until I was all bling-ed out… which I’m still not and don’t think I’ll ever be.

And then the questions started.
Do you know when you’re getting married? Have you picked a date? Do you know where? Have you gone dress shopping? Bridal Party? Church? Venue? Flowers? Photographer?… blah blah blah.

People. Can a person go through one month of enjoying their engagement without being bombarded?
The answer is no.
But I tried to do it anyways.

And it wasn’t until last December that we selected and finalized our date.
And then I realized it was less than 8 months away.
And cue panic.

As a student, I may have been a bit of a procrastinator. I remember starting essays the day before they were due and pulling all nighters. Totally a bad habit to develop, but sometimes it happens.
Though, it would also put me in the zone and once I get started on something and my mind is focused, I do not like to be interrupted. It puts me in work mode. And I always get the job done.

Same goes for this wedding. It is the beginning of May and right now my mind is on wedding mode and there are no time for distractions. So, sorry life, but you’re going to have to take a break… and please don’t throw any more drama my way. Ain’t nobody got time for that!!

Bae and I are having a destination wedding and so we took a trip to Italy last month. Mostly to secure our date and to meet with the caterer and see some venues and churches to confirm we could, indeed, get married this year.
Once we got the green light from everybody, it’s been go go go.

Operation: Tivoli Wedding – is now in full swing.

Though, let me tell you, it is not an easy ride.

We thought we were on the right track. We started the year meeting with the Italian Consulate and making sure we knew exactly what we needed for our civil paper work. And since we are having a Catholic Church ceremony, we needed to get the religious paper work in order as well.

So we began the process.
Signed up for our Marriage classes. Started gathering our marriage searches and translated birth certificates.
Thinking we were on the right path and ready to send our papers over to Italy, we find out we were missing a big chunk of requirements that needed to be sent to the Canadian Embassy in Rome. Which was basically where we just came back from a 2 week trip.

Then the snowball effect.
Thinking we could go ahead with our religious documents, we find out from the priest, they have begun restoration on the front of the church. Aka – scaffolds.
Okay, well I can at least get the invitations started, right?
Oh no, wait. I can’t. Because the caterer and his assistant still haven’t gotten back to us with the pricing. So we haven’t selected our venue. Which means, we can’t do our invitations.
And I can’t budget for a photographer or anything else, if I don’t have a rough estimate of what the venue and food will cost me.

But at least I’ll have fun dress shopping and going to my fittings?
Oh, that’s right. I don’t have a dress yet.

Because did I also mention I can’t try on my wedding dress until my wedding day?

Thanks to my mum and her lovely superstitions, I’m not allowed to try or even touch, my wedding dress until the day I get married.
I’ll let you process that for a moment. And I will write a blog post totally dedicated to my dress shopping experience.

So, to say I’m stressing, is to say the least.
I can feel the grey hairs sprouting. And I can feel the chocolate settling into my thighs, but I know everything will work out.

I am sending that out in to the universe.
Please universe. Be kind. I know Mercury has been in retrograde and will be going back, but please, let this be the worst part of planning and help us get back on track.

And if you can add a couple more zeros to the end of my bank account that would also be most appreciated.

Thank you.

xo
Stephanie

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For more pictures, follow me on Instagram @s_pasquali!

May 11, 2018
Current Mood: Goal Digger

Alright, so we’re almost halfway through March and already, I’m failing at my 2018 blog goals.

#ISuckAtLife

Honestly, I coasted through January thinking I’d have so much more time to update my blog. I started off in the right direction. I wrote almost 10 postings last December just to make sure I had material to spit out every week or two. I upgraded my blog and have my own domain. I filmed and edited a few short videos to post.

And then adulting happened and I don’t even know where February went.
Basically, I wasn’t going to write about it since I didn’t want to get too personal, but my best postings come about when I write what I know.
And I know, I’m freaking the f*ck out right about now.
So here goes…

Bae and I are engaged.
We’re getting married in Italy.
Our hopeful date is for this August 2018.
And I say hopeful because we don’t have our venue book.
We don’t have our church booked.
We don’t have all our civil paperwork done.
We don’t have our religious paperwork done.
I don’t have my dress.
And that’s just the beginning because the list goes on…

Get why I’m freaking the f*ck out?

I’m going to Italy at the end of the month to at least get my venue and church crossed off. And potentially my dress – which is a whole other dilemma on its own and I will probably write a post solely on that. Just know this… I’m not allowed to try on or touch my dress until my wedding day.

Get why I’m freaking the f*ck out now?

Plus, I’ve been trying my hardest to save as much money as I can, but it seems like the closer we get to August, the more damn expensive the Euro becomes. And then there’s a bunch of other stuff going on in and around my life, I feel my head is on the brink of explosion.

Yet, when I feel like that, I give myself a mental, imaginary slap in the face.
Because this year is all about being a

#GOALDIGGER

Sweater: Bow & Drape

I’ve been eyeing this Bow & Drape sweater for so long. It’s super cute and super soft and I thought it was never going to have a decent sale, but just after Christmas it became 50% off. So I snatched it.

Mostly, I like it for its GIRLBOSS message. And the fact that it’s in sequins screams kick ass, but stay glam – which is totally me.

Hard to admit, but lately I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed and having a difficult time staying positive and just being in a good mood in general. This goes for both my work and personal life.

At the end of the day, I need remember to breathe and take the time to pause and remind myself that this too shall pass.

Cliché, yes, but so true. There is nothing I know can’t do. And I shouldn’t focus on what I don’t have. Rather, I need to focus on what I’m working towards.
And that’s getting married, making more money, finding ways to turn my passions into a career and maintaining an amazing blog.

Because I’m super cool and know I can do it.
Period.

Now excuse me as I start digging for goals.

xo
Stephanie

Subscribe to Luxe & Loaded to stay updated with my latest posts!
For more pictures, follow me on Instagram @s_pasquali!

March 11, 2018