Wedding Graduate Advice to Those Still Planning

Merryfj

Just a few things I learned along the way:

-I wish I would have ignored the etiquette board that said it wasn't okay to put "leave the kids at home" on our invites but to just put the parents name on the envelope. Yeah...that didn't work.  Instead, I got to worry about maxing out our reception space capacity and my FIL had to make a few phone calls to guests trying to bring their kids. I think that's WAY worse than just putting it on the invites to begin with.

-Have someone video your ceremony.  I was so overwhelmed while I was standing up there that I didn’t hear any of the Pastor’s message. It’s also fun to see your parents and bridal party go down the aisle since you are in hiding!

-Take a moment to look at your guests during your ceremony. I’m so glad I did because I was able to see some people that didn’t make it to the reception.

-Keep track of your receipts. You can return a lot of crafty/décor stuff you didn’t use after the wedding. Having the receipt makes this much easier.

-I don’t know why my photog didn’t handle this-give your photographer a list of the family photo combinations you want. I ended up having all of our family standing around and grabbing who I needed in the photo. That was not fun and we missed a few combos that would have been nice.

-Big, deep, breaths, a little stretching and a wine calmed my nerves while we were getting ready.

Good Luck!! 

enlightened1

Thank you so much! That is so sweet of you to share your advice with us. Very much appreciated

Archel

Awe, thanks!  Hope you had a good day!!

carrieoz_76

Ooh, good idea.  Mind if I add a few?

Tell everyone to be where you need them 15 mins. before you need them there.  The only reason our ceremony actually started somewhat on time was because we did this.  Some people are just plain late, and if it's an important person, you'll be forced to waste valuable time (that you're paying other people to stand around...) on waiting for that important but tardy person.  We also had people get lost, and if they hadn't had a head start, it would have delayed our start time even more.

Know what photos you want, tell the photog, and give her any props.  I wanted shots of my H and his GM wearing sunglasses, and told them all to bring sunglasses to Hawaii, which they did.  I neglected to mention this to the photog, the guys left their sunglasses in their rooms, and I didn't get the shots.  No biggie, really, but with a little better planning, this could have turned out differently.

Schedule time after the ceremony to be with your new husband, even if it's during photos.  My fondest memories of that day are of the time H and I were together during our sunset photos.  We'd spent the day running around, and not seeing each other, and we finally got to unwind together and just experience being married for the first time.  I'm so glad we did because otherwise we'd have had no time alone together that whole day.

Ask for help.  You cannot and should not do everything yourself.  Ask for help, then ask again.  Our family and friends bought ice and pie and more ice, set up centerpieces, filled coolers, set up our cake, made drinks, and more.  You can't do it all, and trying to will only make you miserable.

Thank your friends and family.  You really can't thank your friends and family enough.  Thank them, then thank them again.  It'll make up for asking for so much help.    We got home from our HM and realized that we hadn't really thanked my dad for his support of our wedding.  It's easy to get caught up and forget this, so start early.

When you get to the aisle, stop thinking about all the planning, and be IN THE MOMENT.  I literally don't remember walking down the aisle/beach.  I really regret that.  I do, however, remember the ceremony b/c I caught myself and really tried to be in the moment - to experience everything as it was happening.  Record your memories of what you see, feel, hear and smell - you'll cherish them.