Two of my very best friends are in the process of planning weddings. Their stories have provided excellent research for me, because even though I was engaged not even a year ago there is just so much that happens during that crazy time I somehow forgot about some of the madness!

So as the holidays approach, I wanted to give all of you bride-to-bes a refreshing and jolly TIME OUT from all the planning and stressing. You may not know where all your guests are going to be seated during dinner yet or maybe your date is still up in the air because the church is available but your dream photographer is not or maybe you’ve looked at every flower in the store and none have jumped out as THE flower yet…okay, so I’ve been there.

And guess what? As I write each of those ACTUAL THINGS THAT I ONCE THOUGHT, I’m now LAUGHING OUT LOUD.  Because here’s the news that is going to sound annoying right now, but TRUST ME IT IS TRUE: IT WILL ALL GET DONE.  IT WILL ALL COME TOGETHER.

So right now, put down those color palettes, grab some hot cocoa and join me for some holiday stories – newlywed style!

Our Tree
The beginning of Christmas started for us with the TREE.  Being raised a “real tree” girl, I was all about the Christmas tree farm experience. Ryan joined my enthusiasm and cut down our rather round tree like a champ! Searching for the perfect tree was a fun, first experience together even though Ryan had to pull me back to reality with a reminder that our ceiling is actually not 18-feet tall, but rather 8. This wasn’t the first or last time Ryan would provide some logic to my mind floating up above the clouds…or in this case the 18-foot Clark Griswold-style tree.

Thanksgiving
A few years ago, I learned to juggle and good thing, because with all sorts of family gatherings, programs, graduations, and concerts, it could almost be overwhelming making it all fit in the Shippmates Calendar! Fortunately for us, we’ll be able to make almost all six of our Christmas dinners due to different times, but Thanksgiving was not so neat and easy. There were three different places we could have been at the exact same time.

Ryan and I decided together that instead of running to all three, but not really being at any of them, we would just REALLY be at one of them and catch up with everyone else at Christmas. One of my single friends asked me about this and said, “When you’re married, aren’t you supposed to go to all of the dinners?” Her comment kind of made me laugh and my reply was, “I’m not sure what ‘you’re supposed to do’ but this is what we decided to do.”

One of the coolest and sometimes most challenging aspects of marriage might be listening to all the thoughts and suggestions surrounding us, but then having the confidence and unity to make the decision that is best for US. In true Shippmate style, we weren’t about to miss a dinner without sending our love, so in place of our presence at Aunt Susan’s dinner, we dropped off two Shippmate Turkeys!

Christmas Cards
With my love for words, designing cool things, AND Christmas, our first Christmas cards together might have been my favorite of all of the “firsts” we’ve experienced this holiday season.  Because I am all that is girl and also a little strange, when I used to daydream about being married sending Christmas cards out together was one of the dreams dancing in my little mind! So naturally I had our cards done, addressed, stamped and in piles waiting to be mailed the week before Thanksgiving!

Traditions

One of my wiser, favorite friends once reminded me that if you don’t start traditions early in your marriage, you won’t have any! Catharine, I’ve thought of this advice often and especially around this holiday time, but haven’t started any yet with Ryan! So here’s where YOU, the creative and awesome readers, get to participate!!! In the comments section below, leave us some of YOUR favorite holiday traditions and our very favorite will receive a special treat from the Shippmates. Ready, set, GO! (Note from Kara: Be sure to check back on Friday as we’ll be offering up more ideas for starting your own holiday traditions!)

Gifts
You know me and that thorn in my side -THE WORD LIMIT…well, we’re battling again, and yet again, HE WINS! This post is going to wrap up (pun intended) here with the crazy gift story and thoughts awaiting you next Wednesday. Until then, let the Tradition Comments Contest begin!