While I’m not a big fan of holidays in general (they often feel a little forced to me) I actually love the turning over of the calendar every year – it makes things feel fresh, which is especially needed in winter, even one as sunny and dry as the one we’re currently getting in the Bay Area. That said – how is it 2014 already? (really, can someone please explain to me where exactly last year went?)

2013 was wonderful in a kind of crazy way – I bought a house, moved the business (and myself) into it, started writing a regular column, expanded the team, expanded the business to LA and started driving down there monthly, lived through a six+ week bathroom remodel (in a one bathroom house), celebrated turning 30 by having 75 people to my house for brunch, hosted Thanksgiving for the first time, and planned what will probably be the last big party ever at my parents’ current house (they’re planning on moving in the spring.) Not to mention personally coordinating 26 weddings, throwing big birthday parties for both my best friend and my mom, and somehow maintaining a fairly active social life (if you’re wondering, the thing that gets lost in the schedule is sleep.)

In 2014 I’m hoping to slow down, at least a little bit. More dinner parties and less take-out eaten in front of the computer at 10pm, more coffee in ceramic cups consumed while sitting with people I enjoy and less to-go cups in the car, more walking slowly through neighborhoods and museums and parks and less rushing to back-to-back-to-back appointments, more mornings reading books in bed and less nights answering emails until 2am. I adore my job, and when you love your job and run… slightly towards the high-energy side (ha!), it’s very very easy to slip into workaholism. We have 44 weddings on the books already for 2014 and are taking 50 total this year, and sometimes that makes slowing down feel impossible, but then I remind myself that I have an incredible staff who handle everything given to them beautifully. And that I once did 32 weddings in a year by myself, so 50 between three people is actually really, really manageable. We have so, so many amazing clients this year that I’m pretty much pinching myself constantly – most of the time I can’t believe how lucky I am to get to do work that feels meaningful, keeps me engaged and challenged, and continually connects me to some of the best people (both clients and colleagues) I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around. But I also know that the schedule I’ve been keeping for the last few years isn’t sustainable in the long run, and that if I want to keep adoring my job I need to figure out a way to find some balance. It turns out that I’m not sure that I’m someone who actually likes vacations – after more than 2 or 3 days of not working at all I’m itchy to get back, but I do love half days off, and even whole days here and there, and that occasionally a week or two of a reduced work schedule is lovely (yes, I know how bad it sounds that I essentially just said I rarely take whole days off. It’s true. and I’m working on it!)

We’re kicking weddings things off super early this year with a New Year’s Day wedding (take a look a look my Instagram later today for pictures) and then get another short break before things get busy in February. And, if you’ve been paying attention, then yes! We do still have 30+ weddings from 2013 to blog, and rest assured that Alyssa and I are getting on that stat in the New Year, and I promise not to let it happen again this year…

Wishing you all love and joy and the space to slow down in 2014!

So much joy.

They got married on Friday at the Manhattan City Clerks office, the two packs of poloroids I took are the “official” ceremony photos (a photographer friend of theirs took photos at the reception the next day.) And you know, we ended up with the pre-stated goal, which was one photo worth framing (actually, there are a bunch – about 12 of the 16 are worth framing.) Congratulations again you two. I am so, so happy to have you both in my life.

I’m an unabashedly-vocal supporter of marriage equality rights, and so when New York state passed their marriage equality bill two weeks ago, I really wanted to do something other than drink champagne to celebrate (of course, some champagne was consumed as well.) So I reached out to Meg at A Practical Wedding, and she turned my little idea into a big one, and well, a lot of detail hashing, refining, and some favor asking later, that little idea has turned into the fantastic reality of not one wedding, but two awesome events (one of which involves FIVE weddings. ahhhhhh!)

Yay! I am so happy to be working with Meg and her killer team over at APW, and Kathleen of Jeremy and Kathleen, who designed all of the crazy-awesome graphics, as well as a million other amazing helpers & sponsors who we’ll be announcing over the next few weeks. For now, you should head over to APW to read more about what exactly we’re doing, how you’ll be able to attend, and other ways you can help us celebrate the radness that is New York becoming a more equal place to live.

And because we want more people (including ourselves, ahem California) to live in places where everyone’s love is treated equally under the law, we’re going to be using our nighttime event to raise money, hopefully an awful lot of it, for Lambda Legal, “a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.”

And if you’re going to be in New York in August? I would love to see you there. It’s going to be an incredible day.

And through all of it, this quote keeps running through the back of my mind – because, my friends, life really is about saying yes. And when you remember that, and you do it, and you have faith in yourself and in the people around you? That’s when things get pretty awesome.

“The thing is, I really like saying yes. I like new things, projects, plans, getting people together and doing something, trying something, even when it’s corny or stupid. I am not good at saying no. And I do not get along with people who say no. When you die, and it really could be this afternoon, under the same bus wheels I’ll stick my head if need be, you will not be happy about having said no. You will be kicking your ass about all the no’s you’ve said. No to that opportunity, or no to that trip to Nova Scotia or no to that night out, or no to that project or no to that person who wants to be naked with you but you worry about what your friends will say.

No is for wimps. No is for pussies. No is to live small and embittered, cherishing the opportunities you missed because they might have sent the wrong message.”

-Dave Eggers

So, here’s to yes, to spending time in the sunshine, and to happy holiday weekends everywhere!

Have a lovely weekend!

I am going to end up saying this way too much on this blog, but I really, really, adore the couples I get to work with. This was my first A Practical Wedding couple, and they just made me even more excited than I already was for all of the other APW weddings I have coming up this year. 2011 is shaping up to be incredible.