{View from our room in Vail}

Tony and I got in late last night from a close family friend’s gorgeous wedding weekend in Colorado and we have a big meeting tomorrow that is going to force me to focus on something other than the wedding for the next 24 hours (and also shower). So, I’m going to make this brief(ish). But, I will climb onto my bridal blogger soapbox for a minute first and say this: We have less than 3 weeks until our wedding day, and the days are going by at warp speed (this is my excuse for not showering most days). There is a lot left to do, and I am a bad combination of super Type-A perfectionist and extremely disorganized. A lot of people have been asking me lately, “Are you okay?” and saying “Remember, it’s supposed to be fun!”

Here’s the thing: It is fun. So fun. I’ve loved weddings so so so so so much my entire life, and could not be more thrilled for my own. Especially after the last few we’ve attended, where I’ve known either the bride or groom for my entire life, which made those weddings all the more emotional and reminded me to take a minute and breathe when it comes to my own. And the old adage that guests only have as much fun as the bride and groom are having is absolutely true; I’ve just spent the last few weekends partying harder than I did in college with some of the happiest brides I’ve ever seen. So, the last thing I want is for my guests to be worried about me, or for them to watch stress wrinkles grow on my face. I want nothing more than the last year and a half of planning to result in a party where people are happy and carefree, with a drink in one hand and a jar of cake in the other, rocking out on the dance floor. Especially Tony and me.

Weddings are (obviously) stressful, and I’ve made choices that have caused more work for myself (and Tony) than need be. (Like his recent trip to a marble scrap yard in a scary neighborhood for a little DIY project that came to me in a fever dream.) I keep hearing myself say in a strained voice, “It’s all fun stuff, there’s just not enough time to do it all!” And I want to stop doing that. I’m publicly shaming myself here, and saying NO MORE. Next time you ask me about my wedding, my face is going to light up and I’m going to tell you how very excited I am. Excited about the details that I have truly had fun putting together with people who love me enough to help, and even more excited to marry the love of my life. Because that is the truth.

Now, here are a few pictures of things that brought me happiness over the long weekend in Colorado!

{Dancing water fountain in Aspen}

{This dog statue reminded me of Maggie}

{Pretty flowers on a long run}

{Super appropriate wedding cake topper. Side note: Tony went fishing with the groom the morning of the wedding.}

{Tony, in the middle of pitching a move to Colorado}

{A puppy at the Carbondale rodeo. Fact: I stalked this dog the rest of the night.}

{The groom and the littlest wedding guests, at the rodeo welcome party.}

{Whiplash the dog-riding Cowboy Monkey. I want to keep him.}