Amid all the wedding advice out there, there are a few things brides, couples, and their families need to keep in mind for a happy celebration to take place.
The first thing is that your wedding day will not be the only special day in your life. It is not the most important day but instead, one of, the most important days of your life. As such, the fate of the world does not rest on your shoulders to create perfection. So put down the bridal magazines, adjust your attitude, and aim instead for a day filled with joy and good spirits, one that will be memorable to you and you alone.
Next - money doesn't buy happiness…and it won't buy a perfect wedding. As a former wedding planner, here's my unique take on weddings - no one should mortgage their future or their parent's future to pay for a wedding. Sit down with both sets of parents or with yourself and your fiancée and take a realistic look at what you can afford. I have seen great weddings done on $3,000 and on $30,000. Those platinum wedding shows and the magazines show breathtaking venues and designer gowns and are simply not for most of us. Get your budget together and stick to it; it (A) Can be done, and (B) Will be just as much fun and possibly even more meaningful.
Always, always include some personal elements in your wedding. Acknowledge family traditions via music, invite friends to do readings or sing at the ceremony or the reception. Have people autograph special wedding frames for you instead of the traditional guest book, dress up the family pets in bow ties and ribbons, in other words - imprint your special day with the memories of gifts of love and service from family and friends.
If there was ever a time to think outside the box your wedding day is one of those days. You don't have to go for a formal sit down dinner with prime rib. How about a morning wedding followed by an elegant breakfast buffet, or a dessert reception with dancing?
Consider a small wedding followed by a special dinner, with a reception to be held later at your home or your parent's home after the honeymoon. You might also consider a station's buffet with favorite foods from both your and your fiancé's childhood. Mix up the concepts and you'll come up with one that is right and affordable for you.
It's true that the more layers you put on an event in the planning process the greater the stress and tear level becomes. One of the most basic elements that will not cost you a thing is for you to consider the time element alongside of your budget. Your wedding day only has 24 hours just like any other day, so pare down your extras and prioritize what really counts. Remember your wedding vendors have your best interests at heart, but it takes time to put up 40,000 roses, and hang special lighting in tents, not to mention to help you get into and move in a designer ball gown. If it is more important to you to spend time with your guests, your money is better spent on planning both a menu and a reception time line that will allow you to do just that. Perhaps you don't need a cocktail hour, but instead opt for a cocktail reception with enough well prepared finger food and cake and dancing. Remember, less is more for a truly elegant and stylish wedding.
Something at some point will go wrong on your wedding day. It will because there is one unchangeable factor attached to all weddings and special occasions. It is known as the human element. Someone at some point will goof up, forget, or make a faux pas. Again, with the right attitude, those moments can become the most funny, the most endearing, and the most memorable part of your wedding day. Don't miss them crying over spilled caviar!
