Wedding Tips - For the Bride, Groom and Host
Yesterday I provided wedding tips for guests. Now Bride, Groom, and Hosts… it’s your turn!
Do: Personalize your wedding.
Don’t: Make constant references to inside jokes.
Your wedding will feel extra special if it symbolizes your relationship as a couple. Jacob and I love the saying “to the moon and back” so we made it the theme for our wedding. But, constantly making references to things no one understands is not fun for your guests, in fact, it is rude. Encourage anyone who is speaking at your wedding to tell stories, but not make references to inside jokes with no back story.
Do: Ask your closest friends and family members to be in the wedding.
Don’t: Expect them to spend a ton of money.
It is so special to invite close friends and/or family members to be in your wedding, but be careful to consider how much you’re asking them to spend. Expecting your bridal party to buy/rent their attire, buy accessories, attend your bachlor(ette) party, buy a wedding shower gift, contribute to the wedding shower, and buy a wedding gift is A LOT! Remember that not everyone will be able to take part in everything. Be gracious and understanding if a bridesmaid or groomsmen is unable to participate in certain aspects of the wedding due to financial limitations.
Do: Make it the wedding of your dreams.
Don’t: Forget the budget.
Every girl (at least the ones that I know) dreams of what their wedding will be like. It’s important to make it the wedding of your dreams… but it is also important to remember the budget. As significant as your wedding is… it is only one day of your WHOLE life! Don’t start off your marriage in financial distress. Ask yourself questions such as, "Would I rather spend X amount on one day... or would I rather use that money towards a down payment on a house or car?"
Find a wedding budget pie chart and stick to it! If you save money in one area, you can put it towards an area that is more important to you. For instance, I wanted to go over budget on my dress, so I decided to go with simpler invitations. In the end, I designed my own, only spending $47 on them (and loving them far more than any of the expensive ones I had seen). AND, best of all, I was able to AFFORD the dress of my dreams.
Do: Know it’s okay to feel overwhelmed while planning.
Don’t: Complain about feeling overwhelmed by the planning but not accept help.
Say it with me…IT IS NORMAL TO FEEL OVERWHELMED WHILE PLANNING YOUR WEDDING. It doesn’t matter how much or how little time you have to plan. But, be careful not to complain about it to someone and then not accept their help when they offer.
Do: Know what you want.
Don’t: Become Bridezilla!
Don’t be afraid to know what you want for your wedding… it actually makes the planning process MUCH easier. Do, however, be courteous in how you communicate your wants for the wedding. Take others’ feelings into consideration, even if you don’t take their advice. Again, this is only ONE DAY of your whole life. One thing a bride and groom must heavily consider as they plan their wedding is the wants of the hosts, typically the bride’s parents. Remember, the wedding will be a reflection on them too.
Do: Take your time planning the wedding.
Don’t: Save anything for the morning of the wedding.
If you have never planned an event of any sort, you may want to consider giving yourself extra time to plan your wedding. You may even consider taking a couple days off work to complete some of your wedding tasks. But, do not, under any circumstance, save anything for YOU to do the day of the wedding. If necessary, hire a day-of coordinator to execute any last minute tasks. The morning of your wedding should be spent relaxing, reflecting, and enjoying time with the bridal party.
Do: Take lots of pictures.
Don’t: Leave a large gap between the ceremony and reception.
I am a HUGE supporter of having LOTS of wedding photos taken, but also be considerate of your guests. Try to arrange it so you’re not taking too many photos in the break between the ceremony and reception. I went to a wedding a few years ago where there was a TWO HOUR delay between the ceremony and the reception. They passed hors d’oeuvres, but we were all pretty grumpy by the time we headed into dinner. The rest of the wedding was… well, it was ...
And, to be honest, some of my favorite photos from our wedding are not the posed ones, but rather the candid ones taken during the reception when Jacob and I were celebrating our love for each other.
Do: Put the emphasis on the MARRIAGE.
Don’t: Put the emphasis on the wedding.
Okay, here’s the most important piece… CELEBRATE YOUR MARRIAGE, NOT YOUR WEDDING. Photos will fade, but love never should. Put more work into your marriage, every day, than you put into your wedding. I’ll say it one more time, your wedding is ONE DAY… your marriage is the rest of your life.
Here’s to healthy, happy, strong MARRIAGES.
Photo credit: Egan Eyes Photography
