Wedding Bells

KK

I have quite a few friends who have either just recently gotten engaged or married, so the process of wedding planning has been fresh on my mind.  Having not too long ago planned my own wedding, I know all too well the stress that comes with it, not to mention the idea overload that comes from a shameful (or not) Pinterest binge.  As I was often reminded by my well-meaning mother: "There's just a lot to think about!"  There's the cake, dress, flowers, music, food, decorations, and trying to figure out which random fringe friends and/or family members get the boot.  Quite frankly, it can be exhausting.  Thinking back to our wedding, I honestly wouldn't change a thing.  Not to brag (or maybe I am..what of it?) but I have had many people tell me they had more fun at our wedding than any other they've been to.  I may be biased, but I'd have to agree as well.  I highly doubt any of it had to do with the cake (although it was amazing! Even after being frozen a year!), my dress, the decorations, or anything else that I spent so much time caring too much about.  I believe it had everything to do with the people that were there and the joy that everyone had.  Like I said, seeing so many people get engaged or married recently, I've been thinking about what advice I would give to any bride-to-be.  Take it or leave it.

1.  The dress

 

Now ladies, don't think I'm here to downplay the importance of the perfect dress. But let's be honest, this is the dress that your grandchildren will look at pictures of you wearing and think, "Grandma...what were you thinking?!"  I completely understand that doesn't change the fact that you should feel beautiful and confident in it.  You should feel more beautiful on your wedding day than on any other day in your life.  However, thanks to shows such as Say Yes to the Dress, I think there is wayyyy too much emphasis placed on this part of the wedding.  Let me say though, that out of the planning categories, I do think that the dress is one of the more important ones.  Simply because, like I said, if you feel beautiful and confident in it, that will set the tone for how you enjoy your big day.  One thing I will say about choosing your dress: you pick the one YOU love, not one you feel pressured to buy to appease anyone else.

2.  Registry

Can I be honest? Nothing irritates me more than when I see a registry list for a bride and it says something like, "The happy couple is registered at Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, West Elm, and Anthropologie".  I guarantee you none of those places were homeboy's suggestions. And I hope they invited some rich relatives, otherwise they probably won't be getting too many gifts.  Sweetheart, we all want designer kitchenware, but get off your high horse and register at good 'ol Target as well.  Give your guests some options as far as price goes.  Some may be traveling quite a ways to be a part of your big day, so do what you can to be nice to their wallets. 

3.  Decorations

Want a tip on saving money? Forget the flowers.  I had none at our reception and I'm pretty sure no one complained about it.  And if anyone did, I doubt they even remember now whether I even had flowers or not, and if they do and still bring it up as dinner conversation, then it's clearly no longer me with the issues.  I learned quickly that in order to save money, no one is too fancy for fake flowers where flowers are needed. With the exception of bouquets and boutonnieres, we had fake flowers as decoration at the ceremony.  I guarantee you, no one will care.  

I'm running out of ideas.  Maybe there will be a part 2. Who knows.  But all this to say: please ladies, put more emphasis on preparing for your marriage than for your wedding.  That's what is important in the long run.  You can care more about impressing a lot of people with your grand and extravagant wedding, or about impacting a lot of people with a marriage that starts with you preparing your heart months in advance.  You decide.