I can't stop thinking of all the tips I have for other brides, so I've got to get this off my chest. This is just a handful of things I was told from other people. As well as other things that I learned myself. Hope you enjoy!
Of all the advice people gave me about my wedding day, the advice that really stuck included:
1. Don't let the things that go wrong bother you. Just laugh them off.
This was something that Brice's mom told me and it didn't really make sense until it happened. So many things went off schedule on our wedding day and it was too late to do anything about it. So after I cried ;) I just laughed. Not really! The only thing I cried about was when the cake baker called my cell phone during my hair appointment to tell me she made the wrong wedding cake. And I was due for a cry.
2. Don't fly out for your honeymoon the morning after your wedding.
This was something one of Brice's friends who just recently got married said it was one of the best things they did. We actually had planned to leave for St. Lucia at 5 AM on Sunday after our wedding. And because it's an international flight we would have had to be there at 3 AM. Yeah right. So we decided to fly to Miami Sunday evening and then fly out for St. Lucia on Monday. We were able to go get my ring fixed Sunday morning after the wedding because a diamond fell out on our wedding day (just laugh right?), we were able to have lunch with my family and in-laws, and we were able to go back to my house to gather the many things we would have forgotten.
And then there's the list that people didn't tell me that you all need to know.
3. During your hair trial and putting your wedding dress on before the wedding realize how much time things actually take.
I had a hour by hour schedule that I put together months before the wedding that I sent out to all my bridesmaids. And sometimes you don't realize it takes two hours to get an updo.
4. Plan ahead the stuff you want to take with you to the wedding venue.
Unfortunately I live out of town so everything was packed in bags. But I was smart enough to pack a separate bag for the honeymoon and another bag for my Dallas trip. Something I totally recommend. However many of the things for the wedding day was taken to Dallas months prior and I was scrambling the morning of the wedding trying to remember what everything I needed to take to the venue. We got to the venue two hours before the wedding and I had planned on getting into my wedding dress there with my hair and make up already done. A few things in my bag included toothpaste, toothbrush, pressed powder, lipgloss, hairspray, bobby pins, makeup remover wipes, Band-aid (the cameraman actually needed one so I offered him one of my Barbie Band-Aids). I wish I would have gotten double-sided tape. We were needing this for a wardrobe malfunction. And thank God my mom had tweezers. And then the sentimental stuff like my special Mrs. Patterson hangar, my Handkerchief, my ceremony shoes, my reception shoes, my jewelry including my wedding earrings and my wedding bracelet, flower girl basket, ringbearer pillow, the marriage certificate.
5. Delegate who will be responsible for what needs to be in your getaway car.
My wedding planner asked me an hour before we left what needed to be in the car. The only thing I knew to tell her was my purse. I had forgotten I took out many smaller makeup bags with things like my makeup remover and toothbrush and toothpaste...something you might need for your honeymoon suite. I also forgot the sandals that I was wearing that morning, and had planned to pack them in my honeymoon suitcase as my beach sandals. My Michael Kors sandals did the job, but it would've been nice to have my cheaper pair.
6. Pack a snack for the honeymoon suite.
They weren't kidding when they said we would be hungry. We even took plenty of time to eat during our wedding. But we were still ravenous by the time we got back to our honeymoon suite. Thankfully our catering company packed us a small lunch box full of little snack items including trail mix, popcorn, two slices of our wedding cake, two cans of champagne (presh) and some other goodies, and we finished every bit of it, so it would've been nice to have something else to snack on.
7. Take your wedding cards to the airport.
I'm so glad we did this. We had a lot of time to kill for flight. And it was very sweet to go through the cards together as a married couple and read them :) it's also nice to have your bank app so you can direct deposit the checks by just taking a picture of them!
8. Buy an address stamp
One of the smartest thing we ever did! You start getting arthritis after so many thank you cards, and yes it's not very many words but when you're writing 300 thank you's it is.
9. Take off time after the honeymoon.
I was going between taking one week before the wedding off or when we after the honeymoon off. And decided I was going to need the time after the wedding. So glad I did because they gave me time to recoup, time with Sperry, and time to change my name. Not to mention I wasn't a tired wife :)
I know I've already forgotten things so I will add as I remember but until then, happy wedding planning to all and to all a good night!!
