As we all know, wedding planning is an incredibly addictive process. It unleashes the creative genius within us all that researches, pins, collects, ooh’s and ahh’s like a monster. We become some kind of super woman juggling 46,000 balls in the air and people gaze with admiration (sometimes from afar for fear of being roped in).

My view on wedding planning? I loved it. I absolutely loved it. Yes, ok, it’s stressful sometimes, but all in all it made me feel so inspired and motivated that it was hard to peel my face/hand/index finger from the screen/notebook/phone most of the time.

So what happens when all of those magazine cutouts, bookmarked blogs, conversations with suppliers, cash withdrawals and invitation replies culminate to one of the happiest days of your life?

You get on with the rest of your life. Yes, ok there is some aftermath from the day itself. Family to see, thank you cards to write and so on. But essentially your wedding day has been and gone, so now what? At this point, it is pretty common to experience a case of the blues.

I know some of you are probably thinking “What the hell does she know about post wedding blues? She flew off on a round the world trip, what’s depressing about that?”. But let me tell you. About two weeks into our trip, I had a minor breakdown in the pool of a very nice hotel on Koh Phangan, Thailand. You see… I had spent 18 months planning this wedding and also this trip. And here I was on said trip after having had said wedding and I felt, well, lost.

All my effort had previously been spent running. Running as fast as my knobbly legs could carry me, full tilt towards the wedding and the trip. Sometimes it was like being a kid and running so fast downhill that your convinced your legs can’t keep up and any minute you’ll fall. But I didn’t. I made it to the bottom of the hill, I burst through the doors of the wedding and the trip and here I stood on the other side.

And on the other side, I stood on top of another hill, overlooking a gorgeous wide open landscape that stretched for as far as the eye can see and quite frankly, I sh*t myself. Because I had no idea how to compete with all that space, time and emotion without a plan. Like I said, I was lost.

So after a much needed sob, cuddle and glass of fresh coconut milk, I spoke to Gavin. I told him how I was feeling and he laughed at me. Yes. Laughed. Initially I was appalled at his reaction, but after he regained composure, he said the most beautiful thing to me:

“Darlin’, we have the most amazing life laid out ahead of us. We can do anything we want and we get to do it all together. There’s so much more to come.”

Cue my moment of dawning.

Yes the wedding is important and it’s a fantastic thing to be working towards, but one day you lot will be standing on the other side of it. Whether you’re making dinner together in your house or packing to come home from your honeymoon, do not mourn your wedding day. Look toward that beautiful rolling landscape that lies ahead and get excited that it’s just the beginning of your life together. And you can do whatever the hell you want… together.

And as a final note… All you married ladies that keep coming back to Rock My Wedding. I do not want to see another apology from any of you. You are welcome here. You always will be. Hell I still visit everyday! Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you can’t lust after a pair of Louboutins or a delicious centre piece.

So, ladies, are any of you worried about what happens after the day itself?

Any newlyweds/old marrieds have any advice they’re care to share?

Love and rice crispy buns,

Naomi

xoxo