Tatiana sat at the kitchen table, her laptop open, surrounded by stacks of wedding magazines and checklists. The excitement of being engaged was starting to give way to the overwhelming reality of planning a wedding. As she scrolled through endless pages of venues, florists, and caterers, she let out a long sigh. How did people do this without losing their minds?
Samuel entered the room, his usual calm demeanor in stark contrast to Tatiana's flustered state. He noticed the stress etched on her face and gently placed a cup of tea next to her.
"Hey, love. How's it going?" he asked, pulling out a chair to sit beside her.
Tatiana looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and helplessness. "I don't even know where to start, Sam. There are just so many decisions to make, and I want everything to be perfect. But every time I think I've made progress, something else comes up."
Samuel smiled, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze hers. "We don't have to do this all at once. We can take it step by step. Besides, it doesn't have to be perfect—just as long as it feels right for us."
His words were soothing, but Tatiana couldn't shake the pressure she felt. She had always been the one to take charge, to organize, and to plan. But now, with the stakes so high, she feared making the wrong choices.
"I know you're right," she admitted, "but it's just... everyone has expectations. Our families, our friends... I want it to be special, but I also don't want to lose sight of what really matters."
Samuel leaned in closer, his eyes filled with understanding. "Tatiana, this wedding is about us. Not about impressing anyone else. We can make it as simple or as extravagant as we want, but at the end of the day, what matters is that we're committing to each other."
Tatiana's tension eased slightly. She knew Samuel was right, but it was hard to let go of the idea of the perfect wedding she had always dreamed of. Still, the thought of a day that truly reflected their love, rather than just meeting expectations, was comforting.
"Okay," she said, taking a deep breath. "Let's start with the basics. What kind of venue do you want? Something big, small, outdoors, indoors?"
Samuel thought for a moment. "I think something outdoors would be nice. Somewhere with a lot of greenery, maybe near a lake or a garden. Something peaceful."
Tatiana smiled at the thought. "That sounds perfect. And I'm thinking of a dress that's not too traditional—maybe something flowy and elegant but still comfortable."
They spent the next hour talking through ideas, Samuel's calm approach balancing Tatiana's enthusiasm. Slowly, the wedding planning didn't seem so overwhelming. They laughed as they discussed the guest list, debated over cake flavors, and imagined their first dance together.
But as the conversation wound down, Tatiana's concerns resurfaced. "What about the guest list, though? There are so many people to invite—family, friends, colleagues. It's going to be huge."
Samuel shrugged. "We'll invite the people who matter most to us. It doesn't have to be hundreds of people. Just those who've been there for us."
Tatiana nodded, appreciating his perspective. She knew she had a tendency to get caught up in the details, but Samuel always had a way of bringing her back to what was truly important.
As they wrapped up their planning session, Tatiana felt a sense of relief. With Samuel by her side, she knew they could tackle anything that came their way—even the chaos of wedding planning.
"Thank you, Sam," she said softly, leaning in to kiss him. "I couldn't do this without you."
He smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "We're a team, Tatiana. Always."
And in that moment, surrounded by wedding magazines and checklists, Tatiana realized that their wedding day, no matter how it turned out, would be perfect—as long as they were together.