Weddingbee boards

Hi Ladies!

I've been on here for a few weeks now and haven't seen a forum to introduce myself other than on the brides boards, so here goes. I'm naturelle, 24 year old visual merchandiser, recently engaged but still waiting on the ring (FI is currently in S. Korea). Mr. Elle is 24 also, police officer in the Army and stationed at Fort Bragg, NC but deployed but will be home in 3 more months. (YAY!)

We became friends in homeroom in HS, graduated, got back in touch sophomore year of college thru social networks and fell in love over the course of 3 years or so. This has been a long, ongoing long distance relationship that has lead to planning a wedding with my best friend.

So now we're in the beginning stages of planning and I'm pretty much doing everything on my own for now. We're looking at an October 2011 wedding since we both love the fall, but hitting all types of bumps in the road already! First thing is deciding where to have the wedding. We could have it in my hometown: Wilmington, DE (where most of our guests are b/c I have the longer list but NOT my 1st or 2nd choice), his hometown: Raleigh, NC (which is also where we met) or at my aunt's home (beautiful, ginormous backyward and free!) in Atlanta. We're having a short ceremony and family reception, followed by an after party for our younger friends/family. Tonite I realized that our wedding will fall in the middle of my semester since I'm going back to school next month.  <----- Panic setting in. I really don't want to take a short honeymoon since it will have been so long since we've been able to spend that kind of time together (we are not living together before we marry).

I'm also worrying about creating a theme, finding a dress, how to have our reception and after party (haven't been to a wedding since I was like 9), maintaining our budget since we're paying for everything ourselves, and finding a place that will let us bring our own food (my mom will self cater). All I've decided are our colors and what traditions we won't be following. UGHH, I am losing it already!! I feel so scattered and lost. I'm a good party planner but I have NO EXPERIENCE with weddings....

@Mrs Green Grass: Thanks so much. I'm trying to gather my thoughts and feelings on everything. My FI thinks I should take a little mental break but we may be moving the date up a month so I'm not sure if that's gonna happen, lol. But I am going to take your advice and spend my mental energy on the things that matter the most to me. I actually took a trip to Barnes & Noble tonite and checked out some of their wedding planning books. It was a little overwhelming at first with all that information lining the shelves, lol, but I did see a small, well written, and visually pleasing planner that I think I can deal with. Thanks again for your advice!