Friday, October 10, 2008

Wedding Goals!

It's that time of year again, when I begin pondering my goals for the next year. This year, I'm even giving a workshop on the cataromance writers loop on Goal Setting just to keep me moving, so that I follow through and write my 2009 goals BEFORE the rush of the holidays!

As I was looking at the seven steps for goal setting, this morning, in preparation for that workshop, it occured to me that future brides, mothers of the bride and anyone participating in a wedding next year might benefit from reading the seven steps!


1. Decide what you really want
2. Write your goals out on paper
3. Determine the price you have to pay
4. Make a plan
5. Take action immediately
6. Do something every day that takes you to your goal
7. Resolve in advance that you will never quit.

Number one probably seems funny to a bride. What she wants is obvious! To get married. But if a bride or mother of the bride or bridesmaid takes number one seriously, she'll decide what she really wants from the event. Does she want the best wedding in the world? Or does she want her guests to have fun? Deciding this in advance can clarify what's most important and make choices easier!

Number two...Write your goals out on paper is good advice! Keeps notes on everything and you won't forget important phone calls or the results of phone calls! You also won't forget to order the cake. LOL

Number three...Determine the price you have to pay [to get what you want]. We talked about this when we discussed budget in August. Decide in advance what you want, figure out how much it's going to cost, and then figure out what you are going to have to give up to get what you want. You may need to cut your Christmas shopping budget in half in order to assure you have enough money for the upcoming wedding!

Number four...Make a plan. If you're the bride, mother of the bride or a bridesmaid, you have responsibilities. Some will be easy to fulfill. Others will take some thought. Don't assume that everything will fall into place! Make a plan!

Number five...Take action immediately. Don't say, someday I'm going to make a plan! Buy your notebook, jot down your goals, take a few minutes to organize how you're going to make your end of the wedding a true success.

Number six...Do something every day that takes you closer to your goal. This might sound odd, but think about it. If one of your goals is to lose weight before the wedding...You MUST do something every day to accomplish that goal. Don't put everything off until the last minute!

And number seven...Decide in advance that you'll never quit!

It seems kind of funny to read #7, decide in advance that you'll never quit...because really, if you're the mom of the bride can you quit? LOL If you're the bride you don't want to quit!

But the purpose of number seven is to force you to make a promise to yourself that no matter how difficult the situation gets, you won't quit or make idle threats to quit! Deciding in advance that you'll never quit should also come with a pact to yourself that you'll be agreeable. You'll work to make the wedding as much fun for everyone as possible!

And that's really what's most important. Weddings are the most wonderful events! The day in our life that everybody remembers.

Last week, when we visited my aunt a few hours before she died, we found her surrounded by her friends...lifelong friends, two of whom had been her bridesmaids. Someone had brought the black and white group picture from her wedding and we stood at her bedside and talked about her special day.

For those few hours it was as if she, Edyth and Pee Wee were those young girls in the satin gowns, smiling fondly at their men, and laughing over private jokes.

No one remembered the wedding meal or even who the band was. They remembered how happy they were, how close, and how those bonds of friendship had never been broken.

That's what you really want from your wedding.

susan meier

posted by Susan @ 5:52 AM