BIG, HUGE AMAZING LIFE CHANGE!
I AM ENGAGED!!
My guy and I, nearly two years strong, are getting married! And, he is moving here to Tennessee (on faith, we are praying for the bomb job) NEXT WEEK!!
We are actually going to do this!
I am so excited I hardly know what to write!
Okay, first of all, he actually asked me to marry him at the end of May, but we didn't tell anyone until now because we wanted to sort through some details. I was moving, so we talked about whether he was going to move or stay in D.C., when were going to get married, elope, big wedding, small wedding, who's coming... on and on.
So, it wasn't official until we told our mamas, which we just did.
It might not be surprising that the proposal came after we went to someone else's wedding. First, we spent Saturday of Memorial Day weekend on the beach with his newlywed friends (the people who were getting married when we visited Mississippi -- it's in the photo album to the left) talking about their wedding, the costs, how they decided on the date, the budget, the invitations. Second, we went to a wedding on Sunday. It was very nice, simple and small. So we started talking about who we would invite, the music we would want, the food, the cake, the venue, the city, the budget...
That night, we were watching TV and he turned to me with his beautiful smile and said "Will you marry me?"
Me, being who I am, said "Huh? Did you ask me to marry you? Are you serious?" And then I started laughing.
Long story short, I said yes. But, as I explained, we kept it under wraps for a bit until we could work out some other things.
Does it make me a bad person for immediatley thinking "This means all my living expenses will be cut in half! That's more for my credit cards!"?
No, it makes me a personal finance blogger!
This changes absolutely everything. We've had a lot of talks about money, finances, futures goals and the like, but now we have to put it all into practice. We still don't know if and how we're going to merge our financial lives. He doesn't have a job yet, so I can't draft up a budget. We have to save money for the wedding! So that's a huge chunk of change for each of us monthly...
Like I said, I'm not sure where to begin. But, as I figure it out, I'll share it with you guys.
Congratulations!
I'm so happy for you! =)
May you enjoy a long, happy life together.
Posted by: Miserly Mistress | July 15, 2006 at 04:52 AM
Awesome! Congrats! :)
Posted by: Tracy | July 15, 2006 at 05:18 AM
Congratulations!
And don't worry too much about the wedding - you can have a gorgeous wedding for far less than the 'average' cost. :)
Posted by: edenz | July 15, 2006 at 07:31 AM
congratulations!
Posted by: G | July 15, 2006 at 08:07 AM
Congratulations!
Don't worry about the wedding and all that yet, the most important thing is a happy life long marriage.
LOL @ thinking your expences are cutting in half. The minute I started reading the post I thought 'great she will have help with the bills, 2 incomes are better than 1.'
Posted by: J | July 15, 2006 at 08:56 AM
I'm so happy for you. Many blessings for a happy life together.
Posted by: D | July 15, 2006 at 09:17 AM
*doin da happy dance*
Congratulations!
You will have help with the bills, but keep in mind that your 'household' expenses may very well double.
Money, debt pay off, budgets, wedding costs and all that is important -- but the love you two share and maintaining a happy/long term relationship is way more important.
Enjoy your engagement period. I'm so happy for you!
Posted by: Single Ma | July 15, 2006 at 09:22 AM
OMG! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm so excited for you.
Posted by: cassie | July 15, 2006 at 10:24 AM
Congratulations! Don't forget to enjoy this time together. It's amazing and full of emotion. That's awesome news!
Posted by: sf mom | July 15, 2006 at 12:21 PM
Congratulations to you both! That's great!
Posted by: Penny Nickel | July 15, 2006 at 03:04 PM
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Stacey | July 15, 2006 at 05:16 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I am so happy for you both! Wonderful news that just made me smile reading it! Yeah!!! :) thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Leanne | July 15, 2006 at 05:27 PM
Good job keeping it quite, I know that I could never make it that long. In case your curious, I just posted all of my wedding budget summary and spending for anyone interested in seeing how a wedding can be a wonderful day with friends without breaking the pocketbook: Our Wedding Budget - In Detail.
I can't express the relief and comfort I feel right now, two weeks later, knowing that we did not put ourselves in the red or over extend ourselves financially for the wedding.
Posted by: donna jean | July 16, 2006 at 09:12 AM
Yeah!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Joy! What a lovely announcement!
I tell you, the pf blogging world just has it going on! I can't wait to here more!
--CollegeGrad
Posted by: College Graduate | July 16, 2006 at 03:09 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I think that is the coolest news ever. I'm so very happy for you both. Can't wait for pics of your wedding!
Posted by: Les | July 16, 2006 at 07:27 PM
OMG! I inhaled so fast when I saw the news I almost swallowed my Tic Tac!!
That is so amazing!
Do you have an address (a PO Box so I can send you something?)
Posted by: Leigh Ann | July 16, 2006 at 10:24 PM
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tiffany in Houston | July 17, 2006 at 10:49 AM
Congratulations! That's awesome! And you two are a super-cute couple - love the pics you have on here!
You can do a wedding for a really decent price - those $25,000 weddings aren't necessary. My dh and I got married for about $900 (including the honeymoon), and it was beautiful.
And I lol'ed at your thought of more money to the cc's! :)
Happy news - congratulations again!
Posted by: Kris | July 17, 2006 at 01:14 PM
Congratulations... didn't I predict this a couple of months ago...
Yeahhhhh!!!
Posted by: supermom_in_ny | July 17, 2006 at 03:27 PM
Somehow I didn't see this post till today. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Posted by: mapgirl | July 17, 2006 at 04:09 PM
Just word of advice...save your money and elope at Vegas!!!! Just kidding!!
Posted by: Faraji | July 17, 2006 at 07:03 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: chica | July 17, 2006 at 09:33 PM
Congrats on the good news!!! That is awesome!!!
Posted by: Paula | July 18, 2006 at 10:48 AM
LOL @ having more money for credit cards. Congratulations!!
Posted by: MsJayy | July 22, 2006 at 11:09 PM