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My wedding was last weekend - here's my advice

samsbride Posted: Jul 29, 2004 08:57 PM+

samsbride MEMBER SINCE: 8/03 TOTAL POSTS : 572 WEDDING DATE: Aug 23, 2004

Posted: Jul 29, 2004 08:57 PM

My wedding was last weekend - here's my advice

The forecast was for heavy rain all day. I was so upset. It rained during the rehearsal and there were scattered showers in the morning. I was able to get my photos in though and there was only one or two drops during the ceremony so we went ahead and risked it outside. I can't say don't let the rain get to you but just realize that even if it does rain - you will probably get a break at some point and can run out and get the photos. They look better when it's cloudy anyway.

Get a great photographer and do an engagement shoot. We were so relaxed with her and we were able to understand what she said very quickly which was helpful when you are rushing to beat the rain that's coming! The engagement photos were great so we trusted her already on the wedding day.

Practice with your veil and headpiece on your own!!! My hairdresser totally didn't know what she was doing and I had to take it home to do it myself. I wasted another 30 minutes being clueless about what to do.

Build in time for little things to take longer than you think and for last minute calls.
The hotel messed up reservations constantly but also on the morning of the wedding. Get a contact person at the hotel who knows you and has a copy of the guest list. Explaining everything the day of the wedding is a nightmare!!! (I did everything I could but ended up with a bad hotel so I had to run with it)

Make sure you have 2-3 friends (not BM or people taking photos) who will check the tables and flower setups. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TIME!!!

Select BM as late as possible. My MOH was useless. She didn't help plan anything, was almost 2 hours late for my shower, made other plans the weekend of my bachelorette party, arrived late for the rehearsal and day of the wedding and skipped the day after breakfast. I only had 2 BM but they were both great. Sometimes you may think a friend is the type who can get things done and you can be dead wrong!!!

Explain things to the groom - he may not know he needs to make a speech at the rehearsal dinner or that he has to go table to table.

Do not plan to do any work after the day prior to your wedding. People will pull you in so many directions and the phone will ring off the hook. You will not have time to break in your shoes, organize place cards or do any other last minute projects.

Make sure you are Ok wearing a veil. Mine drove me crazy. i didn't like the way it looked on me and I felt like I couldn't see to the side of me. I wouldn't wear one if I had to do it all over again.

Do not assume that you are doing anyone a favor by putting them at your table because they don't know other people at the wedding. You will spend no time at your table!!

Decide how you want to spend the night - how much time spent dancing, going table to table, etc. If you do not force yourself to get on the dance floor - you will spend every minute talking to people!!!

Be so specific about photos you want and exactly what flowers you are getting. The florist did a great job on my personal flowers and centerpieces but the arch for the ceremony was all tulle and I said I wanted none of that for my wedding. I just don't like it. It was supposed to be all greenery. The florist didn't put it in the contract but said he knew. The day of - he didn't tell the others so they made me the ugliest arch I've ever seen. Also - specify times to set up the flowers. My florist set up expensive wreaths on the entrance gates of the club (instead of on the door to the club) AFTER everyone arrived. What was the point? Nobody could see them as they left! The point was to have them on doors and even if they forgot and put them on the gates - logic has to tell you to do it BEFORE the guests arrive!!!

Put as much as possible on a credit card in case you have problems. It's hard to get money back when you pay in cash!!!!

Negotiate everything!!! I negotiated absolutely everything - even with vendors who are always booked. Once they invest some time with you - they want you to book. Why spend time trying to book the date with other clients? Start with 15% and work from there.

My photographer was incredible, the florist was OK (flowers were gorgeous and fresh and I negotiated a great price. I would just make sure I was specific about every single detail if using them).

My band made the event. (Times Square Orchestra). Every single person danced and the phone is ringing off the hook asking who the band was. They were not too loud at all and they played exactly what we asked for. I have not one single complaint (and I'm about as picky as they come!!!)

See the humor in everything! When my guests told me that the hotel was sponsoring an event for Narcotics Anonymous that weekend - I had to laugh! You can imagine what people thought going into the hotel with a hundred former drug addicts who smoked constantly and had tons of tattoos (even on their tongues!) I had so much trouble with the hotel that I was just glad my guests had places to sleep.

Take a step back and realize that all the little things that annoy you will go unnoticed by just about everyone else!!!

chichila15 Posted: Jul 29, 2004 09:14 PM+

chichila15 MEMBER SINCE: 5/04 TOTAL POSTS : 2294 WEDDING DATE: Sep 18, 2004

Posted: Jul 29, 2004 09:14 PM