October is my favorite month of the year and we were so incredibly lucky to have an amazing sun and foliage filled day.
Now that I have actually been through the process of planning a Wedding (and not just showing up an hour or so before for the photographs), I have some advice for engaged couples:
1. It's never too early to start on the DIY tasks and projects
2. This day is just as important to your mom/parents, if not more so, as it is for you. Make sure they are recognized, and not doing all the preparations and decorating the day of.
3. A Wedding planner is NOT an extravagance; consider it ~ they have many options of involvement and even a little bit of help can be a blessing for everyone.
4. It's ok to wear the fancy shoes during the ceremony, and pictures...but once it's time for dancing you're definitely going to want to wear something comfy! Consider getting some flip flops for your bridesmaids too.
5. It's fun to leave on your Honeymoon the day after your Wedding; and it's possible, we did it ...
but it also leaves a lot of the clean up and details to everyone else, and cuts your visit time short with friends and family that are visiting from out of town. Consider leaving two days later.
6. If you have things planned for during the ceremony, and you think it will just come together the day of, it won't. Rehearse it no matter how simple it may seem, or how badly you think everyone wants to socialize and get to dinner.
7. Ask your vendors during all your meetings for recommendations to businesses you're looking into. It's ok to ask the florist for a bakery recommendation, or a photographer for a DJ recommendation. We're all professionals, and though it can be difficult to trust that everything will work out, it really will. i.e. I never saw a demo of our flowers before the actual ceremony. We discussed the color theme, and choice of flower styles..etc. but we never saw it actually put together. I was beside myself when I saw my bouquet; it was exactly what I had envisioned.
The same with the cake...though we were able to have a tasting, you don't really know how the design is going to turn out until you see it. TRUST them. I sent my baker a page out of a magazine and they completely replicated it, but was unique at the same time. I could not believe it. She designed swirled flowers around the whole cake; raised up as if embossed; we absolutely loved it. And we wanted a topper that we could save as a keepsake instead of just flowers so we found a website that creates toppers that look like you! Very funny and we now have them on a shelf next to a framed picture of us ...they look great together.
8. It's never too soon to start looking for your dress, and all the dresses for the ceremony. If an alteration goes wrong, you'll need the time for the fix up. A standard alteration on a Wedding dress can take 3 months...then you have to make sure it's ok, and if it's not...another few weeks, etc. And it's true what they say, you'll know it's the one when it's on. Even if they all look and feel great, you'll still know and feel the best in your favorite one. And no matter what your size, you will look amazing!! Those dresses are made to flatter anyone, even me! I never imagined I could wear a strapless gown but I loved it. And if you're uncomfortable bearing your shoulders, the veil is all you need.
9. LOVE your first dance song. Maybe it is one you've had since you first started dating, maybe it's one that just makes you happy, or maybe it's one that you both feel really comfortable dancing to. And as the music is playing, try to tune everyone out and focus on each others smiles. Don't worry about everyone watching you ... you won't even notice it because you'll be in each others arms filled with happiness.
But try to remember to look at your photographer just once if you want that shot. Even knowing all the shots I like to take for my couples, I was so caught up in the day that I never thought of those things. This is why #10 is so important:
10. Hire a PROFESSIONAL photographer! Once your cake is cut and eaten, the open bar is closed, and the dress is zipped up and in the closet, you only have these images to reflect back on and to share for your lifetime together. Your memory will fade and you can't share that with anyone as the years go by. You worked so hard to prepare for this day, this once in a lifetime celebration with your closest family and friends ... you owe it to yourself and to EVERYONE involved to have someone who loves what they do, is creative, professional, and personable there to capture all the moments, and details of your Wedding. Believe me, I now know first hand about the budget. I've seen how quickly things add up. But there are so many ways to have a beautiful Wedding while cutting corners here and there. We did a lot of things on our own and I have SEEN a lot of different ways to do this from all the Weddings I've attended too. A professional photographer will make even the simplest DIY detail look amazing and better than you remembered it to be. Trust me. So, now that I've shared some of my experiences with you on planning a Wedding, I'd love to talk to you in person and hear all about your special day. I'm happy to help in any way that I can. Have fun and enjoy everything up to the day, you'll miss all the planning ~ you won't think so but you will.
:)
(all photos by Mary Corcoran Photography - except for the honeymoon picture of course ;) )
1 comment:
you were a beautiful bride sue! congratulations again, you both look so happy!
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