Showcase Wednesday: Guest Post – “Yes, Dear”

Written by Sara on March 24, 2010 – 9:00 am -

Hello readers! Yet another witty and smart guest post from my guy, Jordan. Take it away, honey!

What’s the magical phrase that keeps marriages going across America and also was the title of a hit-and-miss sitcom on television? Of course I’m speaking of “Yes, Dear,” and while Sara and I are just under four months away from makings things official, I have had my fair shots for practicing this great phrase.

I don’t mean to throw the phrase under the bus, or make Sara to look like a monster; both are far from true. In fact, wedding planning has been a learning experience of another level. Along the way, Sara has brainstormed all of these money-saving, do-it-yourself wedding ideas, and initially, I was all for it. Saving money is saving money.

Sara knows of my (likely) above-average skills in graphic design in particular, so my first assignment was designing our Save the Date cards. A note here: I am entirely self-taught, incapable of reading computer/graphic design books, and have very little understanding of what “vintage” really means. Sara gave me some simple instruction on what she was looking for, and I went to town on designing the cards.

When I was done with work (a card that I actually was pretty proud of), Sara had several critiques (constructive of course) with tiny details, but overall, her main critique was that the card “didn’t look vintage.”

I accept criticism like the best of them, so that was not the issue here. On the contrary, I had realized that I had just entered the “Sara EM” zone. Sara was an English Major (EM!) at Augustana, and she was more than a student, she was the real deal in the class room. “Good enough” doesn’t exist, completion work is a curse phrase, and projects happen in “drafts.” When I think of “drafts,” I think of fantasy sports, not redoing the same work over and over again.

Initially, I was very scared. However, this do-it-yourself wedding has been something that has really brought Sara and I closer in our relationship. With each project we get to throw ideas on the table, and we have learned several things:

1. We are not afraid to say no, or “I don’t like it” to each other. Our opinions are known.

2. We are both great at accepting #1, even if it takes a few tries.

3. At the end of the day, the project gets done, it is (in our opinion) amazing work, and we’re both proud of it.

4. We don’t usually notice this, but we really communicate with each other very well during these times.

One thing: before being engaged, communication was never our strong point. I suppose that’s normal (my psychology background tells me that most young adults have issues communicating and compromising), but these DIY projects are proof of our teamwork and our improved communication. It’s never easy, but since we can both say “Yes, dear” to each other, we’re well on our way to building a foundation for a successful long marriage.

How are you handling the added stress of DIY projects?


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Posted in Budget Weddings, DIY, Inspiration & Insight, Our Wedding, Stationery | 1 Comment »