I have a confession to make.

Despite being all about the fun, single girl lifestyle who doesn’t have to answer to anyone but herself (at least for right now), I’m obsessed with weddings. Like, have a membership to TheKnot.com, buys Modern Bride and Martha Stewart Weddings magazines obsessed. Don’t worry, they’re very much hidden and tucked away when any potential suitors are around. Wouldn’t want to, you know, freak them out with torn out pictures of engagement rings I love. Not that I do that, or anything. But oh! How I get downright giddy at the thought of table decorations and centerpieces. White tents (donning white X-mas lights, of course)? The sheer romanticness of it all! And the dresses, my god, the dresses. Add in sparkly rings to choose from, party favors and flowers (LOTS OF FLOWERS!), and all that love and happiness and being surrounded by friends and family and celebrating and dancing with the help of an open bar and DUDE, WHERE DO I SIGN UP. Not that I plan on getting married anytime soon- because as my father so kindly pointed out: “bloggingbarbie, you have the perfect wedding planned…now all you’re missing is one minor detail…the groom.”

I like to think I’m like J.Lo in the movie The Wedding Planner.

“Y’know, ‘those who can’t do, teach’? Well those who can’t wed, plan.”

Yep. Thats me. (Begin completely unrelated to this post tangent: I’m on the interview trail for jobs in the event planning arena, having a had a background in PR and events. Being a wedding planner? Dream job. Sure, I’ve heard the stories about bridezillas, and the MOTHER OF THE BRIDES (even scarier at times) but I adore everything about weddings and i’m just anal retentive and organized enough to enjoy ALL aspects of it.  I mean everything. End tangent). But this post isn’t about my career wishlist, but rather, about my real life and upcoming events.  Upcoming events that sharply rouse me from my romantically induced foggy state of eternal happiness to the tune of Pachabel’s Cannon. 

Those visions of bliss and immediate acceptance to all related events (because it’s so! exciting! And it’s my friends! And it’s a wedding!) I seemingly somehow (always) fail to remember that there are costs associated with all of this joyous celebration (the free champagna abounding almost makes up for it though. Almost.). Costs not only for the couple getting hitched (have you SEEN the price of chair covers these days?!), but for close friends of the bundles of fiancenesses…especially as the weddings, somehow, all seem to happen around the same time.

I have one, two, three, four, FIVE weddings this summer. FIVE. I am a bridesmaid in one, and another is a college roomate (read: shower, bachelorette party, wedding, and travel for all three of those trips included.) The others include close friends of mine, and travel is also necessary for all of them. I love my friends dearly and am SO excited to be there to share their happiness, but looking at my dwindling bank account?

Its hard. It’s really hard being (almost) 24, in between jobs, and starting the wedding circuit. But despite the abysmal plunges my bank account will take in these upcoming months, It’s gonna be worth it. To actually be there, witnessing firsthand those little moments that are sometime missed by Kodak? Now that is priceless.  So while I create my own MasterCard commercial (and consequently, follow General Custer’s orders to CHAAAAARGE! that wedding registry gift), I will be there. Beaming and teary-eyed, with bells on.

Now, the state of my arms, and the massive amounts of hours I need to spend whipping them into shape so they’re beautifully toned for pictures? Yeah.  Somehow THAT thought doesn’t elicit the same amount of joy.