What's the best wedding advice you've received?

Knot Annie

Looking for the magazine (we'll use your KNOTname on this), so please tell me the best wedding advice that you've received. I know that we have lots of married Knotties here, so I'm coming to E first.

TIA.

MyNameIsNot

A wedding is only one day.  A marriage lasts a lifetime (if you do it right).  Focus on the latter.

Mrs.B6302007

That is really wasn't MY day.  It was my H's and a day for celebrating with our family and friends.  Plan accordingly.

Knot Annie

I knew that I came to this board for a reason.

Thank you (so far).

P.S. I put another "give your advice" post up on the HM board for the same purpose.

lpstl

Elope.

Unfortunately, we didn't take the advice.

A piece of advice we did take:

The day will be a blur, make sure you and your new husband take a few minutes away from the festivities, just the two of you, to enjoy the fact that you are now married.

ohwhynot

Ditto "no one cares about your wedding as much as you do."

Things will go wrong on your wedding day and, as long as no one gets seriously injured (and in my family, probably even then), those things will become part of your family lore and be funny one day. 

danieliza1127

Stay in the moment!  The days leading up to the wedding are so hectic, but also fun, and I found myself on Wednesday obsessing over what was to come on Saturday until my best friend reminded me to stay in the moment.  That was my mantra the rest of the week and I had a blast with our friends that had come in from out of town instead of worrying over every detail of what wasn't going to happen for 3 or 4 more days.  It all goes by too fast to waste it!

mocha beans

Don't spend money you don't have.  If parents offer money, don't count on it till it's in your account.  If you're paying for everything, don't use credit cards or loans to pay for your wedding, which is really just a big party to celebrate the start of a marriage.  Starting your marriage with bad debt is no way to start a marriage.

caketime

Take 5 deep breaths before walking down the aisle.  It helps calm the nerves and really let you focus in on everything and everyone.

laurenclaire1386

The fact that you're having a wedding doesn't give you license to treat your nearest and dearest like slaves in the name of having a "perfect day."

Night_Sprite

Your wedding party members are not accessories.  They are people you love and appreciate.  Treat them as such.

TeresaLovesDave

If you end up married to the person you love at the end of the day, your wedding was a success.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

He who pays, says - if a parent is paying for a wedding, they will often attach strings to the money. After all, they see their children as a reflection of themselves. If you do not want to make compromises or have a completely different vision than they do, decline their offer. But even if you are paying for your own wedding, it is courteous to allow your parents to invite a few people or listen to their ideas.

georgia_bride09

Remember that it's your fiance's day too. He might have a few ideas and even surprise you with some good ones.

Stackeye210

Pick your planning battles wisely

SarahPLiz

Put way more effort into planning for marriage (and being married) than you put into your wedding day. Yes, its a monumentous occaision, but its one day of your life. Ruining relationships over a one-day party is just plain not smart.

redheadfsu

That you will receive lots of unsolicited wedding/ engagement advice from friends, family, and strangers. Please listen, but don't let it cause you worry. It may have worked for them then, but not for you & your FI now.

- I'm still planning, but this has helped me.

AlmondWhittle

don't get married.

bbyckes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_whats-wedding-wedding-advice-youve-received?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:af461df6-fe7d-4bd0-88ec-39287733ed3dPost:5ece161b-f96a-4c2b-97f1-df1fcd8f6a1e">Re: What's the best wedding wedding advice you've received?</a>:
[QUOTE]From the lovely ladies of the (P&) E board: No one cares about your wedding as much as you do.
Posted by laurenclaire1386[/QUOTE]

Yes.  This is so true! 

I had to stop talking about it and keep some things to myself.  I'm sure I was boring people to death.

Also, there is no such thing as perfect and you are not a princess!  Chill.

arbolita

Make sure you regularly have time with your fiance that does not involve anything wedding related.

angel2210

Regarding planning: Don't stress every little detail. Enjoy it. It only happens once.

SassyBrass

Don't spend money you don't have on your wedding. It's one day, and granted, it's an important one, it doesn't mean it needs to be expensive.

Take people's suggestions in stride, but be sure that when all is said and done, your wedding is a reflection of you and your husband. Even if it's not what other people would think is "ideal".

Even if there is a vision in your mind, prepare to be flexible. Things happen. The sooner you are comfortable with that, the better off you'll be.

It's one day. Be sure you're seeing beyond it. There's a whole lifetime after that.

swim1011

Do not go into debt for your wedding, no matter what.  It's not worth it, especially when that money could have gone towards something more important in the future- a home, a vacation, a baby fund.

janedoe1113a

Don't try to make everyone happy. 

ootmother2

Smile

Grandma told me "Smile and the world smiles with you"




of course the other part was "cry and you cry alone" but she left that out

banana468

DItto everyone. 

And I thought I was original until OOT said SMILE.  On a superficial level, it makes for great photographs that aren't posed and on a larger level, you want everyone to know how happy you are.  If you're happy, you're increasing the likelihood that your guests will be happy.

And while everyone has hit on some great big advice, one that stuck out to me was, "EAT!"  Don't let the reception go by and you've forgotten to eat that meal.  You don't need a huge amount of time to get the food in but of all the days to not skip meals, don't do that on your wedding day. 

megandjay

Make it your own...

It's about the marriage not the wedding...

Enjoy every moment...

Don't take things too seriously...

Hire a day of wedding coordinator to take the pressure off, so that you can enjoy the day you spend two years planning!