Before November 2009 I was one of those girls who never could understand the fascination with the whole wedding thing. I mean, you spend the equivalent of a house deposit on one party which, was it not for the super expensive photographer constantly in your face capturing every single move, you wouldn’t remember much of in anyways.

But then John put that rock on my finger and everything changed. A bubble machine to open the dancefloor with? Yes please! R2,000 per fire brazier? Oh, we need at least six of those! (What exactly IS a fire brazier?). And it’s not just the party… There are the shoes, the underwear, the wedding bands, the car to take you to the party, the ceremony venue, the bridesmaids dresses, the hair, the after party, the pre-party, the guestlist, the invitations, the ‘favours’ (who ever keeps those expensive little gifts?) and the bus to get everyone everywhere.

The list is never-ending. And it all costs major money. But it seems that I’ve now joined the ranks of crazy brides. It’s one day. But it’s (hopefully!) the only day of its kind in my life. And damn…it had better been something special!

So, for now at least, we are shutting our eyes and pulling that budget together. And it hurts. In a good way! (And today in six months’ time exactly, we’ll be saying ‘I do’ again. Can’t wait!)