counting chickens before they hatch

So during our weekly convo re the status of our relationship, The Agent wanted to know how I see things playing out between us. After much stalling and dodging, and multiple times asked (he's very hard headed), he amended it to where do I see us in 6 months. I stalled, "Hmmm, that takes us thru the middle of June.................[wait for it, you'll love this]........................I'd like to be engaged by the 4th of July."

Out.Of.Nowhere.

It didn't come out as an ultimatum though, it was breezy, and he laughed, "The 4th of July!?!" But I'm not sure if it was in humor that the date was only 6 months off, or that I had just picked some random, arbitrary date out of the clear blue sky, because that's exactly what I did. Then later, after we changed the subject, he told me that The Realtor's prediction would come true. (When she said I'd have a ring on my finger by the end of the year.) So.....does that mean "you can forget July but give me until 2009"? Who knows.

But it's like that movie line, "When you decide you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start right then." And I want the whole shebang. The proposal, the engagement, the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, the whole wedding (doesn't have to be huge, but the whole kit n kaboodle), and these things require time and planning and MONEY. I'll need 6-8 months minimum, and that's with BF being my wedding planner. Because I know she won't be a bridesmaid, and she WILL be involved and she WILL like it. (Coincidentally, The Blond has taken herself out of the running as well - she wants no part of wearing the ugly dress. Which I would never have, but whatever. Lulu is ecstatic at the thought. She's begged me already not to elope. And I think I want AJ to perform the ceremony.) So, let's say I get engaged in July. 6-8 mos planning puts us at January-March. Which is exactly when Key West #2 is getting married in New Orleans, with an 10/08 bachelorette in Vegas or the Bahamas. Which could put a travel burden on a some of the folks I want to be there, for the ceremony AND the pre-festivities. Plus, I expect KW#3 to turn up with a ring any day now, and she's got baby fever so I don't think she'll want a very long engagement either. A planning nightmare for everyone.

Besides, who wants to get married at that time of year? I never pictured myself as a spring bride. But I don't want to wait until September - October either. That's almost two years away from now, bleh. Does the "Big Day" have to be so picture perfect that I want to put it off for that long? Not likely. And The Agent would probably prefer the spring anyway. Hmmm. I guess he'll get a vote. hahaha

Here are my thoughts so far: Definitely evening wedding (both for class/elegance and to discourage children while not banning them), maybe black and white colors, but reversed - I think I want to wear black and have the girls in ivory or pink because he likes that color, or silver/pewter. A sort of 40s theme - him in a cream suit, or maybe black pinstripes, me in a long, satin, streamlined gown with just a puddle of cloth at the back for a train. No lace, but maybe some beading in the back or on the sides? Simple, maybe strapless, definitely backless. Maybe I could be in pink or silver, not black? I just want to do something unique. Especially since it's not a first for either of us. Hell, it's a third for him, I want it to stand out, not apologize for it. Silver candle sticks, hundreds of them as table art, picked up at antique stores....see where I'm going with it?

Do you think I'm jumping the gun?