The Bride Speaks

December 12, 2016

The big day is finally here! All of your blood, sweat and tears (lots of tears) have finally paid off. You’ve got the incredible venue, the perfect dress and that handsome man waiting for you at the end of the aisle. The music starts. You begin to walk down the aisle. Suddenly, you notice that every chair is … EMPTY?!

Ah, the classic wedding nightmare. We all have them. Right? If not, I am going to continue to believe that I am not alone in this. It makes me feel better. You see, wedding planning is not always going to be sunshine, peonies and glitter. Venue? Date? Dress? Photographer? Wedding planner? Cake? Guest list? Budget? I could go on and on and on. Any time there are so many decisions to be made, stress is inevitable. And that is OK! You are about to become someone’s wife, and that is a pretty big deal.

Here are a few tips, from one fellow bride to another, on ways that you can keep stress from claiming your home as its permanent residence during this exciting time.

1. Don’t Compare

Ladies, this one is important. I’ve seen a lot of wedding blogs advise you to compare the vision for your wedding to other weddings that you have seen in the past. While you absolutely should take inspiration from them, every girl is going to have a different wedding planning experience and budget. You want your wedding to be authentically you and what you (and your parents) can afford.

2. Prioritize

Yay! You’re engaged! Now what? Sit down with your soon-to-be hubby. Pour yourself a glass of wine and grab him a beer. Talk about the vision that you BOTH want for your wedding. Come up with a list of what is most important to you; whether it is the date that you choose, the venue, having a band over a DJ, having an open bar or how many people you want to invite. Make a list. Prioritize that list. And go from there. Making a game plan together, from the start, will keep both of you on the same page. Remember, you are a team!

3. Research

Make sure to do your research when hiring wedding vendors. Look at ALL of your options before landing on the perfect one. Everyone will have different work methods, styles and price points. You will want to get along with whomever you choose and be confident in their work.

4. Stop Trying to Please Everyone

I repeat. STOP TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYONE. It will never happen, and that is okay. This day is about you and your groom-to-be. As long as you two are happy, nothing else matters. So kindly thank everyone for their opinion, but whenever it comes to decision making time, choose what YOU really want to have on your special day. Don’t second-guess yourself.

5. Ask for Help

Two words: Wedding coordinator. Think of them as an angel sent directly from heaven to help you plan the wedding of your dreams. Even if you take care of all the planning leading up to the wedding, having a day-of planner will ensure that you and your family are able to enjoy every single second of the wedding relatively stress-free. You will want to be present and in the moment. Not worrying whether or not the cake has been delivered, or if the band is running late.

6. Be Unique. Be Creative. Be Yourself.

Break tradition. Serve donuts instead of wedding cake. Hire that photographer you have been obsessively stalking on Instagram. One of the main keys to being stress-free during wedding planning is to do what you feel is right. Adding personal touches throughout the day will make it all the more special and memorable for you and your guests.

7. Keep Your Eye on the Prize

No matter how stressful wedding planning can be, never forget about the big picture. At least one thing on your wedding day will not go exactly as planned, but don’t sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, you get to marry your best friend. Keep this at the center of everything and your day will be perfectly imperfect.

– Katie Thibodeaux (Soon to be Pesson)

“The Bride Speaks” has more in store. Our coveted list of wedding planners will be available soon, along with information on specialty niche categories that we feel are untapped by the local market. You can also save the date for next year’s Boutique Bridal Show scheduled for Sunday, January 21, 2018.