November vs. December

[Measha]

Alright, so this has been on my mind an awful lot lately. Jon and I love the fall, thus picking November for our wedding. The other logic is that we'll both be back in college by then and both working full time, so it's the one week in the fall we'd have off to do anything. Also most friends and family would have it off as well.

But I've been stressing and trying to think is it really enough time to cram everything into? Preperation, out of town guests, bridal shower, rehersal dinner, and a lot of DIY, etc., etc.

There's also the fact that, though my parents both still technically live in Alaska, Dad spends 3 out of 4 weeks a month as a tugboat captain down in the Gulf of Mexico. He doesn't get to choose which week a month he gets off and this could raise some issues with being 100% positive he'll be able to be at the wedding. Well...I'm sure you girls realize how I feel on that. He absolutely HAS to be there!

So my other thought right now is that maybe we should move the wedding to December. Only a month difference, I like winter well enough. We'd saccrifice a color theme and more than likely the outdoor aspect. It's still over a year away to let most family get the time off. And I'd be able to work around my parent's schedule a bit better...have more time to plan and get things done without school and work, etc.

Just thoughts right now. I'm a horrible worrier. Right now I think working with November is worth it, but if it winds up too stressful I don't want to drive myself bonkers by my wedding day!

[bichonlvr]

What is the difference in the weather where you are??? I think you will have enough time in November, but your dad might not being there will stink!

I am assuming by you saying the one week you have off you are talking abut Thanksgiving week??? That is the highes traveled time of the year, prices are SOOO expensive for airline tickets too!

Either I think will be great!!! When were you thinking in December?

[ger]

You also would want to think about your anniversary for the next 75 years. Is one better over the other for getting to spend a little time together each year on your anniversary??

Can your Dad put in a request about which week he wants off? Especially this far in advance? I sure wouldn't want to do my wedding without my Dad..so totally understand what you are thinking there!!

[OctoberWed]

Here's my advice-- I'm getting married next Friday and I'm currently in school full time. It's ridiculously stressful and if I had known it was going to be this bad, I wouldn't have planned the wedding while I was in school. So my advice is go with the time that is least stressful as far as your school work goes. I want to enjoy planning and getting ready but right now I have so much to do with school that I really don't even have time!!!!!

Good Luck :)

[Goin2thechapel]

November...I was married in November and It worked for me :) Maybe I shouldn't give advice...I'm already partial towards November...hehehe

[Measha]

As far as weather goes I'm in southern Idaho, it's a very desert like climate. Warm days, cold nights, fairly mild winters. So November here is still "Fall". Nice enough to get hitched outdoors :).

And yes I'm talking the week during Thanksgiving. If we went December it would be sometime during the school break over Christmas (a week before or after).

I'm trying to talk to my parents. That was my line of thinking too, well couldn't he make it work THIS far in advance? But it's hard to get a solid answer. Very hard to get ahold of Dad while he's out on the boats servicing the oil rigs. And Mom is the one that brought up the issue. I swear she's made me more paranoid about it by -her- worrying.

Also as far as pricing, tickets over Thanksgiving won't be so bad if purchased far enough in advance.

So I guess again it boils down to stress level and Dad. If he can make it work, I know we can! Though Octoberwed your post did worry me just a bit. It's RIGHT after midterms too.

[BrideInCuffs21]

Measha I agree with Octoberwed picking the less of the stressful months. I am in school fultime thats 13 credit hours and I am working 48+ hours a week, this past week I worked I think it was 84 hours when I looked at it.. nice paycheck but no time for wedding stuff and barely any for school!!! So please do yourself a favor and go with the less stressful month!!!

[Measha]

I had a lovely long post typed up, then I hit something and erased it....FRUSTRATION! :censored:

UPDATE:

Alright! So, I've been talking to FH and have some more info. Which goes as follows:

Come December he can get NO time off after Christmas and likely through January. Even a year in advance. It's company policy since he does tech. support for Apple, portables division (Lap Tops). It's their busiest season :gurn:. Finals don't finish for school until the 21st of December. So again, it'd be cramming. So much for that idea?

He says "Why don't we consider Spring of Summer?"

Well, Spring here IS lovely. But again we'd be cramming everything into a week (Spring Break in March) due to school. Also, that'd be waiting until 2009, which I really don't want to do :jpticked:. Summer here is just out of the question. From late June to late September it's just unbearable to me. Temps over 100's in the middle of it and then in the high 90's for a good while. Heck, it was 83 yesterday...in October!

So, it looks like I'll be making November work come hell or high water, by golly!

As another note, his mother is just -convinced- that there is no way we can do it outdoors in late November. *mutter grumble* Will have to wait and see how this year goes as a rough example of the weather. I don't want to get married inside :(

[bichonlvr]

Shoot just get married this spring :)

[Measha]

Shoot just get married this spring :)

Just under five months to plan, right as I'm starting school back up. Oh yes grand idea *chuckle*

Since Julius wont' have time to finish my dress I'll be sporting a gunny sack with daisies on it. *strut*

[bichonlvr]

You have TONS of stuff already in the works! You can do it!!!

There will never be enough time!

[Measha]

I feel so special, I have cheerleaders :D!

[EarlyBird]

i understand wanting your dad to be there- but what about not having it in dec or nov and picking a different month? December might e a tough month b/c of the holidays for everyone to travel- expense wise. just a thought.

Its really a hard call, but is there anyway your dad can request off even a yr away??

[EarlyBird]

What about beginning of January right before school starts up? like the 5th or something? That way people might be able to turn it into a new year holiday?
thts what my cousin did last year and it was wonderful.

[bichonlvr]

What about beginning of January right before school starts up? like the 5th or something? That way people might be able to turn it into a new year holiday?
thts what my cousin did last year and it was wonderful.

Good idea!!

Or do you have a break in february for the Presidents days?

[Measha]

What about beginning of January right before school starts up? like the 5th or something? That way people might be able to turn it into a new year holiday?
thts what my cousin did last year and it was wonderful.

See my last post ^-^ we're going to make it work in November. As for January, that falls into "after Christmas. Nothing from after Christmas through most of January works due to Jon's work, heh.

Thought of some more ideas to make it run a little smoother, I'll post when I get more time :D

[EarlyBird]

okay im glad you have found a way- i had read the other post and knew i was a bit late but i thought eh' maybe that could work. :( im sorry you feel so rushed, but truth is, you have a year left and can certainly make it happen.. :)

[Measha]

It's less feeling rushed now and more just worrying about trying to cram EVERYTHING into the few days we had in that week to do things once the time comes. Well my resolution to that part of it was this...

Instead of trying to shove rehersal, and showers, and all that in to one or two days, so that folks could get home by Thanksgiving or whatever. We're going to have the wedding -on- Thanksgiving. I mean, most the guests are family or close family friends anyway that woud love to all be together for the holiday. And if others don't want to come, and have their own plans, well that slims down the gues list (something that would please him a lot!).

Oh and I'll be talking FH into getting a lot of DIY stuff out of the way this spring over our break then, haha. Perhaps as well this Christmas while he's at work and I'm not and bored out of my mind.

Instead of doing light catering and trying to come up with a menu for that, we'll likely move the reception into the evening (were thinking afternoon before) and do Thanksgiving buffet style-ish. Have several turkeys, big things of potatoes, yams, stuffing, and all that good stuff :ura1: . More or less things we can get the ladies in Jon's side of the family to help us cook before hand and have ready.

We also like the idea of having Thanksgiving each year as an Anniversary. That time that you should allready be setting aside to recall what you are thankful for in your life, to appreciate those you love. As for a "personal" anniversary (romantic get away time) well we'll always see that as Dec. 10th, which was when we first got together :wub: .

Have been talking to the folks some more, and Dad is now assuring me that he will -make- it work and if his company doesn't like it well, bully to them.

On the school side of things I've been dutifully studying the semester schedule and if it's simliar (as it should be) to this year. The wedding should fall a month-ish after midterms. So, aside from any exams that might be tossed in maybe I'll even be able to miss a day or two of class if need be for appointments and such.

*deep breath*

:bbredface: Now I feel silly for so much fretting. But that's me! I like to have things all worked out.

[EarlyBird]

no dont feel silly at all. FH keeps pressuring me to pick a date and he is fretting and i keep saying "dont fret" but i understand- thats his worry- just like it was yours- nd rightfully so. As for thanksgiving. i think thats a GREAT idea- You could possibily have the showers and stuff a couple months before not to cram that in the week before. if some people cant attend, it will be sad, but hopefully the important people can make it.

I love the thanksgiving idea cuz that gives you so much for your theme too- as i was reading i thought "she should have thanksgiving food too" and then i got to that part of your paragraph and thought "yay!" I really love the idea-
Congrats Congrats on finally clearing your mind enough to come to a good plan !!!!!!

[Measha]

You could possibily have the showers and stuff a couple months before not to cram that in the week before. if some people cant attend, it will be sad, but hopefully the important people can make it.

Sadly it wouldn't work out. Only one Bride's Maid is in the area, Jon's sister. And only one Groom's Man, his grandpa. All our closer friends, and all of my family live in other states. Some in Canada too. Most my family is up in Alaska, or down in Hawaii, most cost way too much to travel out of unless we planned it now and had an exact date set so they could get in on savings (another reason we wanted to pick the wedding date soon). But as I was saying we'll have the better part of a week to have all those lil' fun things now :D So glad it's falling into place!