The Murray State News

Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: College Life

Senior Kimberly Conklin, senior from Elizabethtown, Ky., and finace´ William Cyrus, nonstudnet from Louisville,?Ky., are scheduled to be married April 26 in Louisville.

William opened my car door, got on one knee, and proceeded to say, "I love you and want to take care of you for the rest of my life. Kimberly, will you marry me?" After the flow of tears, hugs and kisses, I calmed down enough to make the 1,000 phone calls any new bride-to-be would make. The next day, I returned to college in Murray and the planning began.
Going to school while planning a wedding and working at The Murray State News was one of the most stressful tasks I have ever accomplished, but I assure you, it can be done. William and I got engaged Nov. 7, 2007, so when I returned to school, I glued myself to the computer 24/7, looking up anything to do with wedding planning and weddings in Louisville, Ky.
After only a few days I had a list of hotels I liked, photographers, cake makers and churches. When I found something I liked, I would print it out and place it in a three-ring binder. This is helpful for three reasons: it keeps you organized, parents like to see the price comparison and when you pick something, you already have all contact information.
Luckily, during this time I also had my mom, sister and sister-in-law in the area of the wedding. During this time they talked to friends and co-workers to get referrals and advice for me. My fiancé was a major help in all of this, too. Each morning he would call me for a "to-do" list. These "to-do" lists would include any phone calls to be made while I was in class. I found during this time that simply asking for help is a must, even for stubborn brides like me.
A few weeks after I got engaged, we had a week off from school, and I took advantage of that. Making a list of everything I needed to get done, I called many businesses to set up appointments or meetings during that week. That week was hard - I cried, I kicked and I was worn down. Yet by the end of the week I had a dress, a reception site and a cake maker, among many other "musts."
It all paid off and I was close to being done. Also, when looking for vendors, be specific and know what you want. If you are not 110 percent comfortable, obviously they are wrong for your wedding, so keep looking.

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