Photo by Alexandra Faith Photography
Our wedding was simply beautiful. I loved every part of it and wish I could relive the day over and over again. Plus, I learned a ton from planning my wedding. So, as a recent bride, I have thought of several tips to share with both brides-to-be, and guests-to-be! I hope you find this helpful and enlightening.
FOR THE WEDDING GUEST….
Since I've been a bride, I have come to learn the importance of each of these things and will remember these tips for myself at the next wedding I'm invited to!
1. Give encouraging words
So many people make comments about how annoying marriage is, and that is the last thing an engaged couple wants to hear.
2. Don’t pry too much into the wedding details
So many people ask how the wedding plans are going and ask about the details. Keep in mind the bride may want to keep most things a surprise!
3. If you RSVP, do your best to attend, especially to the reception!
First of all, RSVP whether you are attending or not by the date they have asked- there’s actually a reason for that date, believe it or not! And chances are your meal is already paid for if you said you are attending, and it wasn’t cheap. Most caterers don’t allow the family to take home leftovers either, so your food goes in the trash. That means it was a waste of money. Bummer!
4. Stay as long as possible.
There are probably a lot of fun activities and maybe even surprises that the bride and groom want each of their guests to experience at their wedding and reception. If you leave early, you’re missing out and it may even be a bit discouraging to the couple to see half of their guests leave before the fun happens.
5. Take advantage of the food and fun that the bride and groom had planned for you while they are getting pictures taken.
We know pictures can take a while, but remember that the bride and groom are making memories. So take advantage of the appetizers and fun things they may have for you to do, and try not to give too many discouraging comments.
TIPS FOR THE BRIDE….
These are all things I was either glad I did or wish I would have done!
1. Get the majority of stuff done early to save stress as the wedding day gets closer!
Obviously the most important things to get done are the ones that fill up fast. I found that the top 3 important things are the venue, photographer, and videographer.
2. Realize it’s about the marriage, not the wedding.
You’re preparing for the rest of your life. Even if something doesn’t go as planned on your wedding day, you will still be married (we hope…)!
3. If dressing up for your shower, wear a long dress or skirt.
Opening presents and trying to keep your legs together and lady like the whole time is a bit of a struggle!
4. Get a good idea of your guest list before picking your venue.
If you know ahead of time an approximate number of how many guests you will be inviting, that narrows down your venue choices.
5. Take pictures of all your gifts to remember who they’re from!
If you love pictures and remembering even the small details, this is an excellent idea. May even come in handy when writing thank you cards, too!
6. People will be disappointed if they don’t get an invite. But you have to draw the line somewhere.
Family and close friends are top priority. If people who aren’t invited get upset, or heaven-forbid angry, that’s their problem and not yours. Don’t let them steal the joy from your day!
7. Splurge on a nice photographer and videographer.
These 2 things will help you relive your day whenever you want!
Also, if you don’t know your photographer very well, I’d suggest doing a small engagement session with him/her. Then you will be more comfortable spending the entire day with them at your wedding!
8. Send Thank You cards!
You wouldn’t believe how many people don’t do this anymore, and how many people actually do appreciate a thank you note! Make sure you keep track of all your gifts and mark off when you send their thank you card!
9. Don’t be afraid to take a ton of pictures throughout your engagement.
Take pictures of your planning, showers, parties, rehearsal, and even take some selfies on your wedding day. I love looking back at all of the memories, and a couple of my favorite wedding pictures are ones that were taken by me or my friends on our phones.
10. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and desires- within reason.
Don’t be a demanding bridezilla- but it’s your day and it will only happen once!
11. Try the first look!
We did the first-look, and we are so glad that we did. We were able to hang out with our entire wedding party right before the ceremony and just enjoy each other’s company. It was a little less nerve-racking that way too!
12. Get ready the morning of the wherever it is most convenient.
We got ready at our houses with our wedding party, and it was a lot less stressful in my opinion!
So there ya have it… things I learned, experienced, or wish I would have done! (I'm sure I'll add to this post as I think of more!) I hope it helped!
If you’re a bride-to-be reading this, then congratulations! Soak in every beautiful moment <3
Refer to #9 and #11 :)
What are some tips you have as a past bride for any bride-to-be?