In the lead-up to my wedding last year, my fiance, Joe, and I were determined to keep things chill. The point of a wedding, in our view, was not to construct a perfect fairy tale but to do what was necessary to corral our friends and family in one place and show them a good time. And, you know, bind ourselves together for life. Still, despite how often Joe muttered 'stress-free, stress-free' during any wedding-planning discussion, some stress did worm its way in. The sheer number of tasks involved, even for a small reception, can be overwhelming. But soon after we set our wedding date, a remarkable thing started to happen: Even before Joe and I could think to ask for help, offers poured in from our family and friends. We received offers both specific ('I'd love to help plan the bachelorette') and general ('Let me know if you need anything!'). The help was more than welcome, and made us feel loved. As grateful as I was, though, I also felt strangely uncomfortable with handing off...
learn more