I had lunch with my friend Mel yesterday, a fantastically yummy lunch of baked mushroom salad and spinach lasagna at Terroni. I always walk away muttering ‘mah bellah…fuuuullll’, because the food is so great at that restaurant. It’s also a great place to be present, as the smells, tastes, sounds, and sights are so rich and awe-inspiring.

The intent of our girlie afternoon yesterday was to start going through travel brochures to begin narrowing down locations for the wedding (Tim and I got engaged February 14th…hurray!). After going through the first mammoth magazine, head-spinning with information, I announced my new intentions: to elope. (Which I noticed this morning, is what Alex over at GypsyGirlsGuide did last week…congratulations!)

Mel, who I introduce to everyone as: ‘my bestest friend since grade six!’, works in the travel industry and did a great job of talking slowly and giving me the low down on what I needed to know and consider about various locations.

We also had a great talk about what was really bothering me: that although I don’t want to expect everyone to incur the expense to travel to a tropical local for my wedding, I am afraid that no one will. And having my family together on a vacation has never happened, so what will that look like? Then add Tim’s family? And what if they fight, have nothing to do, are upset….on and on and on….

By the end of the day, though, I was feeling better. I think that if I can research and give the most information to people as soon as possible, they can make their own decisions on whether or not to attend, and what they want to do while there.

And maybe I can give everyone the responsibility for their own enjoyment instead of keeping that on my to-do list.