A not so formal announcement

Here it is:

I got married.

That's right. It wasn't that long ago that you heard about the engagement. We operate fast.

Truth of the matter is, there were a handful of reasons why we went ahead and "ran off" to do this on our own - like wedding planning is insane when you're trying to hold down a full time job and seriously, have you seen the prices of invitations these days? But what's most important here is that we did it for us. The way we wanted to. Without killing our families and each other in the process (not literally, of course).

So we did what we wanted. It was about us. It is about us, and our marriage. The rest of our lives together. That's what a wedding is about, after all, the ensuing marriage (something I get a sense that a lot of people forget as they engross themselves in planning the big day).

But know this, it wasn't about intentionally leaving people out, even though I've been getting a lot of flack about that lately.

We called our families to give them the news and then we posted it on Facebook for the world to see. Sure, maybe there was a better way to go about it, but with everyone engrossed in social media these days in one form or another, it was the most efficient way - with both of us living in states where we didn't grow up and the majority of our friends and family don't reside - to spread the news.

Seriously, if there weren't enough hours in the day to plan a wedding then there certainly wasn't enough time to call everyone and their third cousin to spread the word that we eloped - especially when we're still planning for a formal celebration of some kind this summer. You know, like a post-wedding reception, only a few months later. Who ever said you have to have a formal celebration on the day you get married?

This might sound harsh, but I do have to say that it's a bit disheartening when first reactions from friends aren't "congrats, that's so awesome" they're "why did I have to find out on Facebook?"

Well, truth is, because it's not about you.

Even my grandmother was thrilled for us. And if you'd expect anyone in a family unit to be a stickler about tradition, it'd be grandma, right? Nope. Pure excitement. :)

I consider myself to be a pretty generous person, putting the needs of the people who are closest to me in my life before my own, more often than not. I bend over backwards to please. But this time, we did what was needed for our own happiness - me and my husband. And guess what, it worked. We're married, and we're happy, and we love each other and we didn't spend 9 months and $30 grand planning an elaborate wedding that neither of us wanted in the first place.

But we do want to celebrate with our friends and family, because it matters to us, so we will, at some point. Until then, join me in celebrating our lovely marriage every day, will you?

Cheers!

-A