What did you focus on the most during the wedding planning?

Did you concentrate on making things easy for the guests/bridal party?

Or, was it more 'my day, my way?'

I know that when I was planning, I tried to make everyone happy. Although, at the very end of the planning, when I found that I was completely getting walked all over, I started getting more firm.

I know that when my other family members got married, they tried very hard to make sure that things were easy for the guests- timing, location, reservations, etc. I did the same when it was my turn.

I'm surprised to see so many 'my day, my way' kinds of things that happen now with wedding planning.

Well I have to give you credit Sue because I definitely was not as accomodating with certain things. My cousin had told me right off the bat that there was no way I was going to make everyone happy so not to even try. I figured I'd take her advice.

My biggest issue was timing. When it came to things like timing for the day of, it was definitely my day, my way...because I know my family and I know how chronically LATE they are for everything. So I scheduled everything on a timeline and gave it out to everyone who had a significant role that day... down to the 15 min intervals, down to what time my Godmother was getting her hair done.

But to be honest, not only did they expect that from me, they were begging me for it. They would have been lost without it!!

I changed my ceremony time to give us a bigger gap til the CH so that we would have more time for pictures, without planning anything accomodating for the guests in-between. Thank HEAVENS I did. My limos were 20 minutes late which messed up some of the timing so we had even LESS time for pics. I paid thousands for my photography... I felt I should at least have some time to get good pics out of them and too bad if my guests had to wait a little longer.

As it was, about half my family was late to the CH anyway!

But there were certain things in which I felt I WAS very accomodating for the bridal party though. I know how much time, money, and effort they were putting into my day and I really did appreciate it so for them, I did make alot of accomodations. I had a 'no children' policy at the reception but all the BP members were allowed to bring their children if they wanted to and most chose to do so. I also offered to hire a sitter for them for the day of. I took the RBs to get fitted for their tuxes so their Mom didn't have to. I chose FG dresses from David's bridal so that my 2 OOT FGs wouldn't have troubles finding or getting the gowns. I hired a makeup person but Iwhoever didn't want to pay for their makeup didn't have to. I paid for some of them to get their hair done. I picked up their shoes for them, dropped them off for dying, and picked them up again when they were ready. I tried to be very easy going with the BP and work with their schedules. I don't know if they would say the same thing, but I thought I was pretty accomodating with them.

I wanted the BP and my family to be comfortable. And DH's family too- like DH's dad did not want to wear a tux because he has very bad arthritis and said he'd feel better in a suit. So of course, I wanted him to wear the suit.

I know my one SIL was not crazy about the dress- I had to choose that carefully because my MOH is very self conscious and did not want to wear anything sleeveless. Ironically, SIL looked the best in her dress- the style was flattering on all the girls but she is one of those people who can wear anything.