Almost every little girl dreams about her wedding day. You begin to pick out your colors, your bridesmaids, and the shimmering white dress that you'll wear. You begin to envision the entire day in your head and may even act it out through playing dress up with siblings or friends. You are so excited for that day when you fall madly in love with the person you are meant to be with and you can live the rest of your life together. Happy.

The problem is you never expected it to happen so soon. You thought you would have graduated from college and have a career, not be in the middle of the chaos that is college.

Now here you are, a junior in college with 3 years left, trying to plan a wedding. Now you actually need to choose colors and bridesmaids, choose a venue and go dress shopping. Flowers need to be picked out, a cake, a caterer, bridesmaids dresses, centerpieces for the tables, a menu, invitations... The list goes on forever. Where do you start? What needs to get done? Can you even afford this?

I'm only a few weeks into this wedding planning nonsense. I'm already losing my mind. The chaos that is combining both school and all of the homework that comes with it and attempting to plan a wedding that I have no idea how to do is making my mind spin.

Many people ask me "Why do it now? Why not wait?"

I've been reminded too many times in my little time on this Earth that life is short. I've seen heartache and pain in those surrounding me and my community. In some cases, I have felt the pain of loss with them. Because of this, I will not wait. I will not sit around while the person I am meant to spend the rest of my life with is right here. I will not postpone the rest of my life because I am stressed at this moment.

Instead I will continue on. I will spend the next year slightly more stressed than every other college student on the planet. I will keep up with my school work. I will study harder than ever. I will plan. I will book a venue. I will pick out flowers. I will choose a cake and a caterer. I will choose colors and bridesmaids and a pretty white dress. I will be a college student AND plan a wedding.

That is my choice. I can do it, and I will, and I am so excited for what the future has in store for me.