I am going to admit it and throw it out there. I have not always holding it all together. There you go. It’s out there. Of course my closest friends are saying that’s not a revelation. My fella might have a few things to add to that. I try to be my authentic self, throw away the cape and remind myself not to put it back on. Sometimes I just share too much of myself, try to please too many. As I hand painted our wedding invitations there were those who thought that was nuts but this is what I know and am learning…
- you are never going to please everyone. Even with the best of intentions that job is impossible.
- it is “we/us” and not “I/me”. I am not alone and do have help. having a partner makes it better.
- those things that are important to me (like making my wedding invitations and making them me) are good to tackle.
- who needs a wedding cake. Restaurants have deserts and I don’t even like cake nor those silly looking ceramic bride/grooms they put on top! Give me a good canoli any day.
- so many want to share with us and for that I am thankful. We are blessed with awesome friends and family and learning there are limits (i.e maximum seating capacity) is just a fact of life. refer to lesson #1.
- sharing this special day with our families coming together is what this all means to me. Yes, the invites, the ceremony the details, etc. are part of that but not the priority.
- No matter what it is in life………let it go. things will go wrong, invites will not be perfect. You are not perfect. Let that shine through! Imperfection is perfect in it’s own way.
- I am beyond blessed with friends who like to shop for dresses, champagne flutes, and so much more. Those same friends should be worried about my creepy razor back/tank top tan lines. Yep!
- it is important not to lose the reason for all of this…………us!
- ……..stay true to you.
So when it comes to holding it all together all the time I am not so great. I moan, complain, shed tears, walk and talk the ears off of friends, call my parents at very unreasonable house to which my dad always says “put a nickel in the can”. I smile through it and I know I am SO not alone.
So without further ado………my imperfect but so perfect wedding invitations! THEY ARE ME. and I am SO glad I did them!
I enjoyed the process….
and what do you do when you screw up the time…….coordinating post-it’s of course!
As we put a few things behind us, a few weights lifted off our shoulders I know look forward to the countdown to enjoy our friends and family coming together. So for those saying I don’t know how you do it I say this….it is important to pick out the things that are important to us. John knew that if I sent out an invite and did not put my personal touch (despite the boo boo) that he knew I would regret it. He was right. Focus on what is important. The rest will come together.
Let yourself be a perfectly imperfect human being. Let yourself feel what you need to feel and process your life the way you need to process it. Let yourself BE in all your beautifully imperfect human-ness. And give everyone else the same grace. Bad days will pass, overwhelm will dissolve, and the sun will come up again tomorrow morning, just like it does every day. And tomorrow you will learn to do a little better than you did today. Or maybe you’ll backslide a little. After all, you are human, aren’t you? It doesn’t hurt to give your sweet self a break once in a while.”
I think your wedding invitations are awesome! It wouldn’t be the same if you had them made by someone else, considering you’re an artist and that’s the way your are! You are just so lucky to have the support of so many loved ones. A lot of us don’t have that! As a artist, mom, fiance I think you are doing a fabulous job of holding everything together! Hugs!
AWWW thanks Debbie! I always debate sharing so much but when I do it comes back tenfold! ♥ hugs right back at you!
Well Tracy your day is almost here and it will be a perfect day. You are right maybe there will be a few things that will not go right but it will be the perfect day. Time celebrate and laugh with your family and friends, the bringing together two family’s into one. I agree with everything you wrote. We all need to read that list ever morning LOL All the crazy work is almost done. Time moves by so fast. Hope to see you for another awesome Monday!
Sue Z.
Thank you Sue so much! Your words mean a lot to me! ♥
Oh sweetie I so remember doing all these preparations just 21 (almost) short years ago and it seems like yesterday…I didn’t hand paint my invites but did everything else from flowers to centerpieces and everything in between…you will always remember the things, both little and big to make your day special for you both and your family and friends…I love the special touch you are giving each and every guest…they are beautiful…just have fun giving your day the “Tracy Style” we have all come to know and love…Congrats to you and John…BTW…our anniversaries are going to be only 3 days apart.
THANKS SO MUCH DOROTHY! ♥ hugs!
The pleasures of being human….We can make mistakes but the world does not stop so we just go on. Beautiful invites, you will never regret doing them…
Wishing you all the happiness in the world to both of you.
Living in Ct. I am never able to join in the chat on Mondays but be sure that you bring a lot of joy to my life.
Annie v.
Thanks Annie! I love the comments and feedback to know those out there who take the time to read my blog and share in this crazy thing called life!
I have never met you in person. I can’t give you a hug. But, you inspire me in ways that you will never know. The art, humor and sharing real life allows me to be real too. Thank you for sharing who you are. Someday I will be able to hug you and thank you in person. Blessings to you and John as you blend your lives together.
Awww…thanks Bonnie! A few weights lifted this week and we are focusing on the good stuff! Life does get messy. In person hugs are the best!
LOVE ME SOME TRACY 🙂 Just as you are!
♥ ♥ ♥!!!
These invitations are so YOU – creative, talented and brightly colored. Anyone should be honored to receive them – great job Tracy!!
Thanks so much Marianne! appreciate that. If left up to John they may have had fish on them 😉
You, my love, are the perfect Tracy, imperfections and all. They make you who you are, and that is why we love you.
I love you right back my friend! ♥