Brides2Be

Marlena Wojcik lives with her fiance in Eagle River, AK. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Alaska last summer to be with the love of her life and is currently making plans for her Special Day, which will take place next October just thirty minutes outside of Chicago--- it's a destination wedding, sort of. Her challenge is to balance needs, wants, aesthetics, practicality, family politics, and THE BUDGET...dah da duuuuuuuuh. So far, she and her fiance are still getting along. Got any advice for them? Planning a wedding? Just finished planning a wedding? Share your stories/suggestions/forewarnings here. This is your forum.

...Because no Bride2Be should suffer alone.


FORUM

Pearls of Wisdom

This is a forum for brides-to-be to share tips, advice, ideas. Click here to raise a wedding-planning question, or offer you advice to the questions and concerns posed.

REALITY TV

Rich Bride Poor Bride

Sundays at 8/7c What does it take to pull off the perfect wedding? How about within a set budget? Can't be done? Rich Bride Poor Bride shows you how!

REALITY TV

Bridezilla

They're madder, they're badder, they're back! Don't miss a single rant, rave or bridal meltdown! Find showtimes on the WE Channel 24 schedule here

ON THE WEB

Bride.com

Their budget calculator is great and extremely addicting.

ON THE WEB

The Knot

Wedding dresses to wedding cakes. Wedding favors to wedding gifts. The Knot has wedding details covered.

ON THE WEB

Wilton wedding cakes

Great wedding cake styles, tips and ideas.

ON THE WEB

MyRegistry.com

Sign up (for free) and compile a list of gifts from different stores you would love to receive for your special occasion. Then simply email the registry guide to your family and friends, free of charge.

When Duty Calls - 8/29/2008 1:48 pm

Today's Poll: Calling All Opinions - 8/26/2008 1:06 pm

Tie the Knot, Renew Vows or Fall in Love Along Thompson Pass - 8/26/2008 12:42 pm

Engaged and En-Gulfed in Pre-Wedding Bliss - 8/19/2008 3:21 pm

In Other Cultures… - 8/19/2008 3:08 pm

Wedding day tradition: Saw a log? - 8/15/2008 11:15 pm

&^%# Wedding Invitations - 7/1/2008 1:26 pm

Pointers on Toasts and Toast Points - 7/1/2008 1:17 pm

Chapel Cinema: Sex & the City? Love & Los Anchorage - 7/1/2008 1:15 pm

Battle Cry for the Bachelor - 6/2/2008 11:22 am

Minor Setbacks vs. Global Catastrophes - 5/30/2008 7:30 am

Expect the Unexpected Expenses: aka Bride2Be Goes To Traffic Court - 5/30/2008 1:37 am

Happy Fishing Report Thursday - 5/29/2008 11:34 pm

Face the Music and Dance - 5/25/2008 9:18 pm

Weird, Wild Wedding Etiquette - 5/15/2008 4:50 pm

For Richer or For Poorer; In Fitness and In Flab - 5/13/2008 4:13 pm

Mothers and Daughters - 5/12/2008 8:41 am

The Power and the Glory - 5/6/2008 12:31 am

Happy Earth Day - 4/22/2008 8:42 am

...And that is how the wedding planner profession came to be, Kids! - 4/22/2008 8:31 am

What You Don’t Plan For - 2/28/2008 9:50 am

Happy Hearts Day - 2/14/2008 8:29 am

Expect the Unexpected Expenses: aka Bride2Be Goes To Traffic Court

In between working, wedding planning, and living the Big Wild Alaskan Dream, I’ve spent a large portion of my time practicing, cross-examining and preparing for my big Boney Courthouse date with the Traffic Magistrate.

Back in January, on a cold, dark, snowy morning, I was driving to work, enjoying Week Three of a new job, and listening to the biography of Ben Franklin on CD to distract me from pulling out my fingernails during a two-hour 20-mile commute at less than five miles per hour. Sometimes, even Big Ben and his 17-Disc story wasn’t enough. That morning, the fresh snow was hiding a thin layer of ice slicker than snot, and I hadn’t yet mastered “the skid out” or the “whose lane is it anyway” winter sporting events.

With no depth perception and no visibility ---“Where were you then, Mr. Sun!? Where were you when I needed you, huh??!” --- me and my nerves of peanut brittle skidded through a yellow light ever so gently. Maybe I was still a car-length from the intersection when I locked eyes with the yellow, but when the flashing red lights appeared through the snow in my rear view mirror, I really thought they were for someone else, some baaaad person on the loose.

My court appearance was this afternoon. I really thought I had a case, since I’ve had over five months to plan for it. Please, Your Honor, let me tell you why my story is different than all those stories written up in the Anchorage Daily News who tried to get out of a ticket by blaming the weather. Allow me to cross examine the officer and submit evidence that shows why my case deserves a break unlike the 50 jokers you’ve already sentenced today with the same story. Mr. Officer, you were there, tell the judge, wasn’t it awful weather for driving? I could have killed someone if I stepped on the breaks and lost control of the car going four miles per hour! Not likely, but why tempt Fate? C’mon, Fellas, we all have hard-to-pronounce Polish last names, can’t we all just get along?!

It was quick, sad, unsettling and embarrassing, like when your little sister de-pants you on the fourth grade playground in front of all your co-ed friends--- er, hypothetically speaking. Ten minutes and 210 Alaskan Airlines miles later (hey, thanks Bank of America!), I left the courthouse, waved my white flag, and called my fiancé to determine how we would adjust for increased insurance rates.

The unexpected expenses all factor into the household bottom line, and subsequently, affect the wedding budget. (Looks like we’re going to have to cut out the roving wild swans AND the chocolate fountain.)

The underlying and much bigger issue is the ever-tightening squeeze on the American family wallet. Good financial planning includes an emergency slush fund: savings you can rely on when “life happens:” loss of job or reduced income, appendectomies, illness or death in the family, German Shepherd’s hip dysplasia, or the ol' shot-gun bundle of love in the oven. Surprise! Don't get me wrong, babies are beautiful whether they're planned or not. I’m just not ready for kids or to file for Chapter 13. I'm also more of a fan of the "planned" wedding, but maybe being a little more impromptu about this whole "gathered here today" thing would save us money and time! Too late for Vegas?

These days, how can anyone afford to maintain their slush fund, i.e. gas money?? In theory, the wedding budget is the back-up slush fund until it’s spent. That’s fine, because while we don’t have to serve red meat at the reception, we do have to pay Marlena’s bail.

This driving record blemish and minor financial setback is unfortunate, but the lessons learned have been humbling and priceless. It’s just too bad we’re not getting married in Alaska. I could have invited the Traffic Magistrate to be our officiant as part of the settlement. On second thought! There's that rule that we could ask anyone to marry us! And then we would have avoided expensive minister fees in Chicago. Better luck next time! (Just teasing, Brian) Now, if only I knew how I could save more money on my car insurance.

Where's that gecko... And does he take Visa... How bout a nice watch...


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