#2. ohmmm

So. Rock & I are getting married. Next year sometime . . . (more on that to come)

Rock's brother is also getting married. Later this year. Later this year, in fact, on a date that I had a special fondness for (10.10. how often does that date come up, people? oh, once a year? right . . .)

Rock's brother is getting married about 6 months before us. And today I started thinking:
is that too many weddings? (umm, 2? 2 is too many? really?)
are they too close together? (it's over 6 months. that's a looong time. I'll change my hair 3 times between the two.)
what if everyone just goes to their wedding and not mine? (have I mentioned my lingering childhood insecurities?)

and then, the kicker

what if their wedding is EXACTLY like ours? will I have enough time to change things?

Now, you do not know Rock's future sister-in-law (side note: what does that make her to me? sister-in-law-in-law?) but, let's just say we don't have a lot in common. while I've only met her a few times, she is the ultimate definition of Southern girly girl, but without the blond hair. Let's call her Sparkles.

Sparkles is the Manolo to my Payless. she is the appletini to my bud light. the French manicure to my bitten down nubs. the Barbie to my Punky Brewster. for real. damn good thing Rock is so different than his brother

there is no possible way we will have the same wedding. unless I get hit over the head by the rhinestone fairy and lose all consciousness. I constantly do this "stress over the most impossible situation" thing and then wear myself out in the process. even if we have similar ideas, so what? then, we have similar ideas. is my marriage less worthy or valid if we both use those big Chinese paper lanterns? or if we both have chicken for dinner?

really, isn't the whole "wedding" concept pretty similar anyway? – girl, guy (or another girl. whatev), flowers, dinner, dancing, commitment of live & love . . . ? Ariel at Offbeat Bride put it best: your wedding is NOT a contest! I could use that as my new mantra during yoga . . . my wedding is not a contest . . . my wedding is not a contest . . .

oh, Rock's mom just sent me an email . . . she sent Sparkles my ideas website . . . and Sparkles really loves my centerpiece ideas . . . not a contest . . . not a contest . . . *deep breath* . . .