Wedding bells, white dresses, and doves. The perfect day every little girl, and admit it, most little boys, dream of. But what they don't dream of is budgeting, ticking-time-bomb to-do lists, and the stress of finding all the matching, perfect theme items for the "big day." But it doesn't have to be that way! I have seen this tight rope walk navigated smoothly and I have seen it crash and burn. Hopefully, from all these observations and trying to plan my own day, I will teeter-totter slightly on the way to a smooth day. Just remember, this day is as much about you as it is about the people coming to see you. Don't forget them, after all it is the reason you chose not to go down to city hall and signed some papers dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
Here are the suggestions to making this day the most special and stress free it can be;
1. Consider yourself and your fiance. Are you a night-life partying duo or low-key home bodies? Don't step out of your comfort zone for this celebration.
2. Think about how much you want to spend. If you're down on your luck and can only afford bare minimum, stay there and get creative. Don't take on extreme debt for the sake of beautiful pictures and the top tier of the cake getting freezer burn after one year. There is something romantic and special about a small wedding in a friends home.
3. Bargain shop for your dress. If you find it unnecessary to buy a fancy dress for only one day, go onto renttherunway.com and pick it out. You pay a nominal fee to borrow a designer gown and then mail it back. Great pic's and clear closet space. Can you ask for anything better? If you can't fathom giving up your dress, think about EBay, gilt.com, amazon.com, and other discount online shopping sites. These places will help you get the designer, one of a kind look you want without breaking the bank.
4. Don't forget the little ones- that is, the ones with little experience. This doesn't mean they are without talent, it just means they are without large price tags. Up and coming photographers, graphic designers, photographers- they will all be ecstatic to work for minimal just for the practice and portfolio-building pieces. Just be sure to do your background check first. If they are students, get instructor references. If they are new to the scene- get friend and, if possible, previous client recommendations. And don't be afraid to call in favors of friends! Having a DJ friend in the mix will help with the overall cost of the event- just be sure to give something back to them. (like pay for their hotel for the weekend or a small stipend.)
5. Plan out the weekend for people. Many will be coming from out of town and won't know what to do. Save them the digging and give them a list of things to do in the area with a map. An itinerary of the wedding activities during the weekend would be helpful too. They are here to see you, after all. Let them know where you will be!
6. Remember to have fun! This is a celebration not an involuntary commitment to the luni-bin. Relax and roll with the punches. Not everything will go according to plan, and that's the fun part! No one will remember that the wrong music played during the cake cutting or that the candle went out on their table. What they will remember is how sublimely happy you and your beloved are.
These 6 rules are what I am navigating in hopes of a blissful union. Don't get me wrong, I go onto theknot.com and Martha Stewart Weddings and bury myself in wedding magazines and bridal shops, but I do so for fun. If it weren't, I wouldn't be there. Remember this and you will have a wonderful day people will always remember as just that.
How was your wedding day? A mess or bliss? Perfect or flawed? Traditional or unique? Let me know!
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