Getting hitched will be one of the most memorable days of your life, and if you plan, get organised, and only let happy vibes lead the way, you will be laying great foundations to ensure you have a great day! However, there will be a few things that you may not have thought of – even if you are the most superbly organised bride in the world! So, some wedding tips, from me as a planner and past bride…
I thought it would be useful to give you some insider info about some of the things that no one tells you about getting married, so that you will be even more prepared to dive straight into married life!
1. You will feel EXHAUSTED
Not to put a downer on things, but the reality (and this is coming from my own experience and that of many other brides I’ve worked with), is that your sleeping pattern will suffer in the lead up to the wedding. It’s also just pretty hard planning a wedding while working a normal 9-5. It’s like an extra full-time job sometimes! So make sure you get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and eat well so that you can get as many of those 8-hour nights in as possible!
(I also swear by those rehydration sachets you can buy at the chemist if you’ve been poorly – great for helping to keep your fluids topped up in general, not just if you are poorly!)
2. Hair and Make Up Woes
OK, so you’ve been for that all-important trial run with your hairdresser and MUA and didn’t love the way you looked afterwards… make sure you TELL THEM! One of the most important things on your day is for you to look and feel your best. But also, to feel like you. Sometimes, despite a couple of OK trials, you might not feel happy with everything on the day. Be prepared, and make sure your stylists concentrate on you first, so that there’s time for lots of tweaking and adjustments before having to walk down the aisle.
Also, don’t go for a super daring look that you’re not used to, as this will have it’s own complications on the day with getting it right and you feeling comfortable if it doesn’t turn out exactly like you had imagined.
3. Marriage Certificate
This is certainly something to think about, as most brides don’t plan a handbag into their bridal attire! And even if you did have some kind of bag with you on the day, is it really going to fit your certificate (usually A4 or A5) and keep it safe? Make sure a (responsible) member of your wedding party has a bag big enough to accommodate the certificate and keep it safe. (My MIL took ours!) You don’t want any additional admin or responsibility on your wedding day!
4. Engagement Ring
Traditionally, you are supposed to take this off prior to walking down the aisle for your ring exchange. Have a think about whether you are going to take it off and who you are going to trust to look after it.
(My sister wore mine over her own to walk down the aisle ahead of me as my MOH – as I literally chucked it to her about 10 seconds before we entered the town hall!)
5. Bridal Speech
You may regret it if you don’t do it! These days, it’s more popular than ever for the bride to make a speech at her wedding. Gone are the traditional ‘men only’ speeches over dinner, as now brides, bridesmaids and even MOB’s are taking centre stage to say their piece during speeches and toasts. It’s a really lovely chance for you to thank your guests for joining you to celebrate on the day, and/or to express your love and feelings about the day to all of your nearest and dearest. If you’re in two minds whether to make a speech, then I say just DO IT! Not doing one could result in regret, so if it’s on your mind, be prepared, be bold, and just go for it. Everyone on the day is there because they care about you, and everyone is on your side – you will never speak to a warmer crowd.
(I’m not a great public speaker so opted not to make a speech at my wedding… But in retrospect, I wish I had. I really wish I’d told everyone how happy I was that they were there, and how thankful I was that they made the journey to London to celebrate with us.)
6. Emotions will run high!
You might not be the emotional sort, and tears might not be your thing, but believe me; the overwhelming experience of getting married and having everyone celebrate with you on the day is enough to make even the most composed brides well up! And sometimes, the emotion will manifest itself in different ways; be sure to keep hydrated, have tissues on hand and keep some basic make-up products close by (mostly mascara and concealer) to do any touch-ups after a tear or two.
7. On Your Feet!
Yep, aside from a little sit-down at the wedding breakfast, you need to take into account that you will be on your feet all day. Have a good think about this when choosing your wedding shoes, and also consider a footwear change as the evening kicks in (OMG, I wish I had done this). The last thing you want is blisters and feet that are too sore to dance the night away – and what a tragedy that would be!
(I got gel insoles especially, and I wore the shoes I had only worn once to be bridesmaid for my sister at her wedding because I loved them, and had already broken them in, but my feet were raw by 9pm…! I carried on regardless still wearing them until 1am… it didn’t hinder my evening, but I wish I’d had a change of shoes!)
8. Post Wedding Blues
So, not to sound too doom and gloom, but once your wedding is over, it’s like a little piece of your life just disappears! Granted, a new venture begins as you go from Miss to Mrs, which is SUPER exciting. No need to check Insta and Pinterest every hour for inspo, no more making, creating, listing, and planning, and no further use for that beautifully kept wedding organiser that’s been your best friend for the last few months. Just be prepared for a slight feeling of loss in the early days post-wedding… And you’ll have a lot more time on your hands!
Hopefully these little snippets of wedding wisdom and wedding tips will help prep you a little more for your big day – you got this girl!
Photography Credits: Mirror | Charlottesville MUA | Shutterstock | Alice the Camera | Sasha Weddings | Chloe Lee Photography | Harmit Kambo – The Snapper | Pinterest | InStyle
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