Top 5 Wedding Tips

Being one of the last of our friends to get married, we were fortunate enough to receive a lot of great advice on planning for the big day. Here are my top 5 tips: 

1. Focus on 4 or 5 items in the wedding that really means the most to you (apart from the actual legality of the wedding). Spend the money wisely on those items and divide the rest of the budget to the lesser items. For our wedding we chose: 
• Wedding Gown (Style Me Pretty)
• Photographer (Last Forty Percent)
• Food 
• Music/Entertainment 
2. When things don't go as planned: It all happens so quickly and if something doesn't go as planned, just pretend that it was suppose to be like that! Nobody will know the difference. This actually happened to us! The wedding band didn't go on smoothly and got stuck on the first knuckle. Luckily one of our groomsmen told us beforehand that it happened to him. In the moment you can become so stressed, but if you're aware that the ring might not fit, you won't force it and potentially making a humorous scene of a serious moment. 
3. Be consistent & true to yourself. My aesthetician told me that her cousin had a wedding a while back and she sent some invites via email, others via text and some via regular mail. Suggestion: Make it all the same. This also transpires into the theme for the wedding. All to often we go to weddings and it's almost as if they did EVERYTHING they like, all at once. From a design perspective, choose one central theme, if you're into country, let the wedding reflect that. If you're traditional, the same holds true, for an eclectic style, choose only a couple different , yet complimentary themes. I chose my wedding gown and built the whole wedding around it. That being said, a themed wedding doesn't have to be boring! Do some research on unique ideas and find some great do-it-yourself'ers. 
4. Tips for the in-laws and friends: It's not your wedding. Although you might think that it's great to put your stamp on the day, it's really about sharing in the couple's love and public display of their commitment. Try to keep rivalries, gossip and ill-manners for the day after. Worst story I heard is when a woman shared the news that she was pregnant on her sister's wedding day. Don't steal anyone's thunder. Be a source of support, inspiration and a helpful friend. This will set the stage for the day and make the bridal couple's day blessed and one to be remembered as a beautiful time spent with loved ones. 
5. Spend more time on building the marriage than planning the wedding. The wedding day is most special and nothing can take away that feeling of pure joy. So enjoy every moment of that day and start building a happy marriage that will last all your days.  

 Photographs courtesy of Last Forty Percent