Here are three conversations I've had today:

Convo 1
Friend: Hey! How're you?


Me: Exhausted. I've had such a crazy day!


Friend: I completely understand. Things will calm down after the wedding.

Convo 2

Potential Research Advisor: We've got a lot of projects coming up. I think you'd be great to bring on board.


Me: Thanks! I've got a ton on my plate this year. Maybe we can touch base a few times a month and sit down around the middle of next semester to see if you still need me?


Potential Research Advisor: Sounds like a plan! No worries, I completely understand. Things will calm down after the wedding.

Convo 3

Mary Kay Consultant: You have such an outgoing personality. You're a natural salesperson!


Me: I worked in sales before and had a lot of fun, but I'm really not interested in going back into it.


Mary Kay Consultant: I completely understand. We can talk details when things calm down after the wedding!

This was JUST today!!!

I have more going on in my life than the wedding... a lot more.

To my friend: I'm actually running into a wall trying to schedule my prospectus defense. I also went to a meeting this morning about mentoring undergraduate research assistants for the year, moved into my new office, updated my website, arranged meetings and sold three things I posted on Craigslist, called my cheerleaders' mothers to put together a phone chain, and started writing thank you notes for my bridal shower. On top of that, I still have to do some editing and fold laundry.... The wedding was the least of my concerns, but thanks for asking.

To my potential advisor: I said I couldn't meet with you until next semester.... The wedding is 5 weeks away, the middle of next semester is 5 months away. You're smart. Do the math.

To the Mary Kay consultant: Your products are great. However, I've seen too many of my friends waste their time, money, and energy trying to sell Mary Kay. I'm not doing it. Period.

Undoubtedly, some people will be offended by my bluntness and take how I'm feeling the the wrong way. I'm prepared to deal with that. I have tried my best to be candid with you about every aspect of preparing of marriage, and this is something that I've been facing.

To be clear, it's not that I don't want people to ask me about the wedding. I'd love to chat about what's going on, answer questions, and fill you in on any updates. Weddings are fun, weddings are exciting, and they bring you back into contact with old friends and loved ones.

And it's certainly not that I'm unappreciative of your support. I'm grateful to my friends, family, and the random strangers that read my blog.  It has been amazing to document everything going on at this important stage of my life. The writing is therapeutic, the comments make me smile, the suggestions have been great, and I know that I will treasure this blog for years to come.

Just please don't assume that all of my worries and stress involve the wedding. I know that this blog does discuss the wedding and wedding preparation, but keep in mind that this is just one facet of the many sides of my life.

Before I was engaged, I had a full life. After the wedding, I'll still have a full life and have to also consider Lu's wants and needs.

All the stuff that's been pushed to the back burner because of wedding planning? Yeah, that's still there.

Settling in to our new lives? Yep, we'll have to deal with that.

My research, my mentoring, my friendships, my coaching, my editing, and not to mention cooking, cleaning, and taking care of my dog? These things were never put on pause!

I know that many of you come from a good place, but I'm still the same active, involved, busy Ashley now that I was before I was "Ashley the bride." Wedding or not, that won't change anytime soon.

With that being said, if you'd like me to start a blog about political science, coaching cheerleading, or being a free-lance editor after October 16, then that's always an option!