Dear AisleDash,My best friend and my mom and pretty much anyone who would help me plan my wedding live two hours away. I don't mind the drive, but gas prices are making the trip way too expensive, and I'm worried that I won't be able to do any of my planning with them. I'm having the wedding here, so it's not like I have to drive there to do the planning, I just want them to be involved, and I know they don't always want to drive out here to help me. Gas is expensive for them, too. I just don't want to be on my own for all my wedding stuff. I'm not good at this! What should I do?
~P.
Dear P,
I'll bet this is a problem lots of brides are facing right now. In fact, pretty much everyone in the country has been forced to adjust their travel habits. I think it's safe to say that we can all sympathize. I don't have some magic solution that will get you two hours away without burning any fuel, unless you've considered becoming a marathon cyclist. So you are going to have to do more of your planning without the help of your mother and best friend, but that doesn't mean you have to be on your own.
Make a list of the things that you really want your team of women to help you with. For all the things that can be done in their town (dress and shoe shopping, addressing invitations, etc...), try to pack as much as you can into one weekend, and take a trip out there to do it. Make it a 3-day weekend if you need to.
For all the things that have to happen where the wedding happens (picking a venue, cake, flowers, photographer, etc...), invite your mom and best friend to carpool together to come help you with these things. Offer to cover their gas, since they're going out the way.
Now, for all the things they can't help with, don't feel like you're alone. Maybe you can use the internet to find other local brides who are in your same situation, and start getting together with them for support and planning help. Another great resource will be your wedding vendors. Photographers, caterers, bakers, florists, jewelers, djs, reception hall owners -- all these people are part of a huge local network of wedding professionals. Ask them for recommendations and ideas.
When your support team can't be there with you to look at venues or do other planning, you can always send pictures via email to get their opinions and suggestions.
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