By: Jessica Pope and Erin Kametz
After your engagement, everyone seems to have advice for, or an opinion about, the planning of your wedding. Some of the tidbits shared may put you in the position to do the fake smile and nod routine but others could be valuable words of wisdom to keep in the back of your mind during your planning adventure. We polled past brides to find out what the best advice was they received while planning their weddings. Here is our top five list:
Best Wedding Advice #1
If something does not go as planned, it will be okay. Regardless of how much you plan (and you will plan, a lot, probably even in your sleep), there may be details of your day, which do not go as you planned it. If this occurs remember one thing: play along. If you don’t react, no one will know. Only you and those who assisted with the planning will know if something is not quite right.
If the caterers serve the wrong soup, your guests will most likely not notice and will assume the lobster bisque was the one you ordered. They may even enjoy it. Don’t let it ruin your mood or your day. Your guests will be too busy looking at the beautiful bride to notice, unless you draw attention to the issue. Mention any mishaps to your Wedding Planner and they can handle it discreetly. Otherwise, smile and move on. It is your day to shine!
Best Wedding Advice #2
Plan for yourself and not others. You are inviting your friends, family and guests to celebrate your wedding with you (keyword: your). Of course you want them to have a good time, however, you may regret it if you sacrifice your own dreams for your wedding to appease everyone else. Also, do not feel pressured to follow with the same type of weddings you have attended for others. This day is yours to create.
Your guests may have an expectation that your wedding will be a glamorous and formal event, but you and your fiancé are dreaming an informal country style wedding. Try to stick to your vision. It may be difficult but if your friends and family want to see you blissful on your special day, they will hopefully accept your vision graciously. Keep in mind, you are only asking for a few hours of their time, not the sacrifice of their first-born child.
Best Wedding Advice #3
Do not let others bully you into making decisions. This may come into play if you decide to have a big bridal party of 10 girls, but your mother thinks that 5 is the perfect number or if you want to wear a dress with a red sash but your mother-in-law thinks a solid white dress is best. It is nice to acknowledge their wishes and traditions when you can but your day should represent what is special and unique to you and your significant other.
We tend to regret the things we did not do more than those that we did. While planning your wedding, make decisions based on what you and your future spouse want. Otherwise, you may look back on memories of your wedding and regret that you didn’t. Your Wedding planner can also act as a soundboard and can discuss how important your choices are to your family. This may elevate some of your stress, as you know you have someone who is willing to assist in making sure your wishes come true.
Best Wedding Advice #4
Create a wedding budget. You can have a classy and glamorous wedding without going bankrupt. If you plan your budget right, you may have finances left over to save for a home or use towards your dream honeymoon. Plan an incentive for yourself if you stay within your budget. If you have money left over after all expenses of your wedding are paid you can use it to upgrade your honeymoon plane tickets to first class or use it towards a special experience while on your trip. It is not recommended to start your marriage in debt, possibly causing arguments or stress over money. If you find that you are having a difficult time sticking to your budget, definitely sit down with your Wedding Planner and discuss options to get you back on track.
Best Wedding Advice #5
If you need help, ask for it. This could mean enlisting the help of your mom, sister, bridal party, etc. Their assistance is perfect for attending dress fittings, picking up ordered items or even decorating the church. Asking for help could also include the expert guidance of your Wedding Planner. Many people enter their engagement with no prior event planning experience and are faced with the task of planning a formal event for over 100 people. Your Wedding Planner will help you with the daunting task of planning this large event and bring your vision for your wedding to life. The experience they have gained from planning weddings for a living can only benefit you.
Photo Credit: http://www.brideonline.com.au/
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