Which is better, Christmas or Wedding Season?

My grandpa had three rules for men to follow when it came to getting married.

1. You had to be 25.
2. You had to have met, and liked, her mother.
3. You had to have seen her in a bathing suit.

Served him well, the man would have been married 70 years this year.

It’s advice I am 99-percent sure three guys I know have taken, because they’ll be marrying three of my favorite ladies on the planet later this year.

Yep, you guys, this summer is WEDDING SEASON!

It comes around once every few years (the last one was the summer/fall of 2010, and before that, one spanned the entire year of 2007). And I love every minute of it.

I’m so happy for all three of my girls and am honored to play a part in each of their days and the planning process. I’ve helped shop for 2 wedding dresses, done 2 save-the-date shoots and that’s just the beginning.

In June, we have Ashley and Matt’s wedding. I’m like 78 percent responsible for them meeting, so I take their relationship as a personal success. They are both amazing people that I couldn’t imagine my life without.

I was there when Ashley found her wedding dress. I will be there when everyone else who loves her gets to see her wearing it. And I’ll be that girl running around on the beach that day (yup, beach wedding, another reason I love her) trying not to get sand in my camera while trying to capture as much of the day for her as I can.

She wants me to take pictures. She trusts me. That’s scary, y’all. Engagement shoots you can schedule to do again. But hey, at least it’s a digital camera, so I’ll know how they turn out immediately. And I cannot wait to be there for her on her special day.

Rebecca’s up next, marrying Jered in July at a plantation in Tennessee. You see, I have a handful of people that I truly consider to be my soulmates, and Rebeck is right up there at the top. I love our friendship and am so happy for her and Jered.

I’ll be standing up there with her on her day, in my Kentucky blue bridesmaid’s dress (and a hidden UofL Cardinal temporary tat on my body so nobody gets confused as to where my allegiance lies), probably crying just like I will at Ashley’s because I am so glad my friends have found these guys to share their lives with.

And finally, in August, comes the party of the century. Rachel and Charles are getting married. And my family can throw down.

Seriously, we do Derby and Christmas up right and this, well, this will be a whole other story. People are lining up their transportation options (Cabs, City Scoot) back from the reception now. And it’s March.

I love Chuckie like a brother and have since they started dating, right after I left for college. So this is really just a formality. And making it all official and whatnot. And an excuse to have a huge party.

I was there when Rachel found her dress and, friends, she’s going to look so beautiful that day. It’s amazing. I’m loving being a part of the planning and prep process for this, and she and Chuckie were my guinea pigs for engagement photo shoots and save-the-date designs (which I’ll post a peek of once they’ve all been sent out, if I get the OK).

I’m a bridesmaid at their wedding as well, and we made sure those dresses had pockets because I’ll cry. I’m sure. Or, ya know, I’ll keep a flask in there. Some days I can’t believe she’s getting married and other times it feels like they’ve been married all along, there’s just this big-ass party the end of August that our entire family and tons of our friends will be there for.

So yeah, Wedding Season officially starts in June, but I’m already in the mode. Engagement photos, save-the-dates, wedding showers, dresses, hunting down (easy but also amazing) ideas on Pinterest for something crafty I can do for them as a wedding present, because I don’t do the registry for these ladies.

You’ll see pictures, hopefully, of all things wedding I can show you, before and after, but for now you’ll just have to be content with the building of the excitement, like I am.

‘Cause I. Can. Not. Wait!