Weddings - stop stressing and just enjoy the party!

Today is my fifth wedding anniversary. 

I like being married. I like it a lot. It is probably (besides my kids, of course) the Best Thing I've Ever Done.

I was very much focused on having a "marriage", not a "wedding" and I was lucky enough to never get hung up on the day, but instead thought about what came after.

That may have been because I worked two jobs and did uni full time (including an assignment due the day before, and two exams two days after) and I had no time to think, but really - I came from a pretty poor childhood and could not justify dropping a lot of cash for one day. What a spoilsport!

I hand-made all my invitations, scored my dress for a bargain $150, borrowed my veil and used clip-on vintage earrings to decorate my shoes. I did my wedding my way and it was the best thing I ever did.

I walked down the aisle to Jimmy Eat World, played punk music for my mingling guests and boogied on the dance floor to the Wu-Tang Clan.

I made my own bouquet.

I reserved the right to do things I wouldn't remember doing later, nor why I would do them.

I made my sister my Maid of Honour, even though she's hotter than me.

I listened to the whims of my incredibly talented photographer and was glad I did.

My dad walked me down the aisle, and then I filmed a Macleans ad. 

Ok that was a lie.

I had a cathedral-length veil for a backyard wedding. Oh yes I did.

I annoyed the celebrant by only having one chair at the signing table. I also annoyed him by changing my vows to "I do", not "I will". 

I also did not tell my husband to do this... he just did.

I had two dresses, just because.

I loved my wedding day. I married an incredible man and we've made an incredible life. I had the best ladies' night before, and a day that was without fault.

Except my 18-year-old brother didn't get drunk and dance to The Thong Song like he did at my sister's wedding. I'm not sure I'll ever get over the disappointment.

It topped off a beautiful romance, a quirky, thoughtful and totally amazing proposal, and started a lifetime of love.