"The Top 5 Tips I Would Give Future Brides" From a Bride who just became a Newlywed |
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| Author: Jennifer - Director of OperationsMay 2008 |
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| So it’s finally over. It’s been over a year in the making, and now I am officially a Mrs. (a title which I am going to have to get used to). The wedding was just like I thought it would be, and it was amazing to see my vision come to reality. I am looking forward to returning to normal life with my husband. There are some things about wedding planning that I will miss, such as the thrill of finding exactly what you want and making it happen. I will not miss any conversation related to the wedding budget. For now, I am content to help my future-bride friends in any way that I can, as so many brides helped me in any way that they could, including offering the best advice that I acquired on and leading up to my wedding. Here are some of my tried-and-true tips for those brides-to-be. |
My Husband and I |
| 1. |
Things are going to go wrong, no matter how much you plan. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Believe me, it’s true. I am not talking about the major problems that become wedding urban legends but small irritations that don’t really bother anyone but you. My now father-in-law’s suit was wrong and he didn’t know it until he showed up to take pictures. The tie and vest were supposed to be black and they were bright red. When I noticed the mishap at the wedding, I realized that there was nothing I could do about it so I might as well just move on. Right before we were supposed to walk down the aisle, my sister and maid of honor accidentally spilled a drink on her dress. We spent the next couple of minutes with a hair dryer trying to dry her dress, and it worked. I knew that the ceremony would wait for us. During the ceremony, the unity candle would not light because the wick was embedded in the wax. We just kept trying until I decided to flick the wick up with my finger. These are things I could not have planned for, but they made my wedding day memorable, thought they were stressful at the time. |
| 2. |
Weddings are one of the best and most stressful things you can do. Try to keep your cool. When things go wrong, it’s really easy to get mad or upset. The problem with that is that if you spend the time reacting to things that go wrong, you will miss out on so much. At a certain point in the wedding planning process, you have to let go and tell yourself that you did the best that you could and things will work out. Though it bothers me that my father-in-law is going to stand out with his red suit in our pictures, there is nothing that I could have done about it, so why not make a joke out of it? Also, keep in mind that your bridesmaids, friends and family WANT to help you. I cannot tell you how many asked me what they could help with. If I had something that they could help with, I would let them. It saved my sanity and allowed me to enjoy the time that I had. |
| 3. |
It really does go as fast as they say. Take LOTS of pictures. I have never experienced a time period that went as quickly as my wedding. Because I wanted to enjoy what was going on, my camera remained in my purse for the most part. Luckily, my bridesmaids overcompensated for me. One bridesmaid presented me with a digital photo frame after the wedding. She had uploaded all the pictures that she took throughout the weekend. I put the frame in my suitcase and took it on my honeymoon, looking at the pictures with my new husband every day. It was the perfect way to hold me over until I get my professional photos back. Photos are so important for your wedding because they are the best way to remember. |
| 4. |
Try your best to talk to everyone, but know that you won’t get to talk to everyone as much as you want to. Looking back on the wedding, there are only a couple things that I wish that I would have done differently. One of my regrets is that I feel like I didn’t get to talk to everyone. After the wedding, we greeted everyone at the back of the ceremony room and thanked them for coming. At the reception, we mingled but there were still those that we did not get to talk to as much as we would have liked. I understand that this is a common complaint from brides. When I think about it, I wonder if I possibly could have had a conversation with even most people at the reception. Just do the best you can and know that your guests will understand if you cannot have an extended conversation with them. A simple “thank you for being here” is enough. |
| 5. |
Do what you need to do to enjoy the day. This is different for everyone. On my wedding day, I was not in charge. My mom, mother-in-law and sister took over the planning on the wedding day. All that was expected of me is a day with my friends of pampering and to walk down the aisle. My wedding day was one of the most peaceful days of my engagement. I encourage anyone to make their wedding day as stress-free as possible by doing what you love to do on that day.
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| Through the red suits, missed photo opportunities and spilled drinks, my wedding day was the most amazing time of my life. My family and bridesmaids made it easy and kept me laughing the whole time. I was surrounded by the people I love most in the world, and at the end of the day, I was married. What else really matters? |
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