The Official 2007 'Already Married Brides' Advice Thread

My advice is

1) GET enough sleep the night before- I only slept 2 hours and I was lethargic all day. Get sleeping pills or some prescription from your doctor.

2) Photographer- Make a list or bring pics to your photographer of pics you want, because there are alot of brides that wish they did because they feel they are missing some pics.

3) Zap photo's- If you can afford it, go for it. Your photographer has someone taking pics during the CH and RH and everyone is viewing in on a plasma during the reception. They were excellent and best money spent.

4) Try to find time to look around and enjoy what you have worked so hard for, I had a cigar roller and I never saw him, dh did but I never did and I am a little upset that I didnt meet him and my photographer didnt even take a pics.

The day goes by so fast and it is all over before you know it, so enjoy every minute with your new Husband. DO not sweat the small stuff, let it go, dont let anyone ruin your day.

I second, third, fourth ..the VIDEO!!!

SOOOOOOOOO important!! The day is over in a flash and with all the adrenaline and happiness you don't even realize that things happened and quite frankly u forget! Seeing my video brought back so many woonderful memories!!!

1. Give yourself grace periods in between ceremony, pictures, reception-these are the times that you can REALLY stop and take it all in

2. DONT MAKE FACES!!! If something bothered me I scowled...if I was annoyed you could tell-I have a few pictures that I have on some of the most perfect 'kodak' moment faces on!

3. If you dont want to DONT! Dont let anyone else tell you how you should do something, when you should or where you should do anything...you will regret it later on.

4. Make sure you are 100% comfortable and happy with your day of attire-this will have a huge effect on how you feel the day of if you are not happy.

5. Try not to sweat the small stuff but if things do go wrong think before you make any decisions-dont get upset but dont just poo it off

6. LOVE LOVE YOUR FH that day-all the planning, time spent running around, asking questions, LIW chatter...you are marrying the man you are going to spend the rest of your life with.

No matter how crazy your morning is- DON'T STRESS OUT! Be happy, excited. I wasn't. I was so stressed and frustrated. I'll never get that back and I really wish I could say I was floating on a cloud that morning! Too bad I really only started the floating at the time of the ceremony!

And related to morning stress- HIRE A DOC!!! ugggh I wish I had...I totally messed things up as far as scheduling. And if not, really organize yourself and come up with a printed schedule!

If you have a dress with a corset, make sure your MOH really knows how to put it together! Have them take notes, and make sure they tie it REALLY tight.

With hair/makeup - do NOT go with loyalty if you have doubts. I really wish I would have gone with a hairstylist that specializes in wedding hair rather than go with my good old stylist that I've been relying on for years.

And please, this is totally cliche- SOAK IN EVERY MOMENT! It goes by tooooo friggin' fast. I'm glad to say I had the best time ever - I was never so happy - but it still feel like it lasted all of 30 seconds. ENJOY IT!

HTH!

Time to bump again, so many new brides

*Get plenty of sleep the night before. It's really easy to be absolutely overwhelmed and nervous and giddy, but get some sleep. It's very important and you'll look and feel so much better the next day.

*Eat. Don't forget to do this, otherwise, you may feel sick or dizzy or even pass out. We sat and had pizza and there was no way I wasn't gonna eat anything!

*For hair/make-up--schedule everything early to give yourself time...and don't go with loyalty. I had a hair person that I was going to for almost 10 who from the very beginning said she was going to do our hair. A few days before, she flaked and gave us the run around. Thankfully, my cousin is friends with a hairdresser who took pity and did a much better job.

*Be yourself. Don't be serious and stoic at the altar--be yourself. People kept telling us the best part of the ceremony was watching the two of us be totally comfortable up there. When I got to the altar, DH and I had the biggest smile of our faces and winked at each other--people said that it wouldn't have been us if we didn't do something like that.

*Don't panic at the little things. You can't control everything, so don't try.

*Enjoy the day. Savor everything about it and actually BE a part of it and have fun.

On the morning of give your cell phone to one of your BMs or MOH. DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE. Let them screen your calls from last minute vendor questions or silly GM that loose pieces of their tuxes. You have been wedding planning for a long time!! Your wedding days is time to relax!!!

DOn't forget to drink water. Although my wedding day was unseasonably cool 74 I dodn't drink enough water and felt myself a bit dehydrated towards the middle of the evening! NOthing a few glasses of water didn't fix!

Enjoy your day!!!! It will go by so fast!!!

bumping for some more October ladies' advice!

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!!!!
It's been said in practically every post, but honestly, I didn't really get it until a couple of days before my wedding. There wers a couple of DIY's undone and I had NO TIME, Guess what?? I didn't even care at that point. I just wanted to get married already!!

2) For those DIY'ers, get as much done as early as possible. I kept putting the 'small stuff' off and then I was overwhelmed my last 2 weeks. Several things were left undone the day of; I bought an edger for my menu's and it really made it look very nice, but after about 50, I was done, it was such a PITA!! Now looking back, I wish I would have just broken it up and done a little at a time. I didn't finish cutting the cards I wanted people to write on in my guest book. Those things I didn't really much care about the day of. The one thing that does break my heart when I think about it is my personalized aisle runner-I started it and it really looked beautiful and I just never finished painting it. I was just too exhausted the week of, but everytime I think about it-it hurts b/c I really put some time and effort into it.

3) BE VERY SPECIFIC WITH VENORS as far as your expectations go. ASSUME NOTHING! With my photographer, I never mentioned 'getting ready pics'. Honestly, I thought it was a given and all photographers did it. Well my photographer came up to my hotel room, saw I wasn't ready and said he'd be downstaris waiting for me. WHAT???????? I should have said something at that point, but my room started getting chaotic and my DOC wasn't there yet so, I just said whatever. When my DOC got there I asked her to go get him and by that time I was dressed. I really wanted the getting ready shots and the shots of my dress hanging up and jewelry and so on. Again, I will take most of the blame for that b/c I should have said something. He did tell me at our meeting that I could give him a list of must takes, I didn't. Again, I was assuming that was something they all did. And then with my DJ, there were a couple of popular songs that were out that I really loved that I wanted played and just assumed he'd play them & he didn't. Totally my fault.

3) If your having an outdoor ceremony, use a microphone or PA system. My DJ bought this up to me and I did not feel like spending the extra money on it, I posted about it and a lot of brides said it was worth it and I am SOOO glad I got it. It rained the day b/f the wedding so the guests were seated farther back on the concrete instead of on the grass where they usually are. If we didn't have that, they would not have heard one word of our ceremony or our vows plus it was windy. My officiant did an amazing job on our ceremony and It would have broke my heart if my guests were not able to hear it.

4) EAT!!! Before and at the wedding.
DH and I sat down and enjoyed 3 different entrees at the reception and they were all delicious!! My DOC actually came over to me and said 'I'm so glad to see your actually eating!!'

5)GET THE VIDEO!!! I was always a supporter of the video and now I can't wait to get mine. It all goes by so quickly and there were a couple of moments I missed b/c of taking pics. Our ceremony was soo beautiful that I can't wait to see it from start to finish!

I feel like there's more, but I can't think right now and this is long enough!! The main thing is enjoy your day. With all the little things that didn't go quite the way I expected, I had a fabulous day. We really enjoyed every moment!!

Good Luck!!!!

Advice:

1. I hear a lot of people giving advice to get video. My advice is that if you can afford it than great GO FOR IT! If you can't (like us), ask someone to bring their camera and tape...even if it's just for the ceremony. We asked one person and FOUR ended up taping for us. They came out great! I am so very greatful for this. I think I would be alittle upset now if I had paid a ton of money to have it taped and we didn't even really need it.

2. If people are having 'after party' stuff after the reception GO! We had such a great time at the after party. The reception wen't so fast that we didn't get to spead much time with people.....and this was our time to just kick back and enjoy our friends/family.

3. DANCE YOUR *** OFF at the reception! And dance with your husband. Overall just enjoy it, cause it's over in a blink!

I can finally add my advice to this...

**DANCE and HAVE FUN!!!!!! - DH and I danced all night and I danced with my BM's and friends alll night even when DH wasnt dancing...I would not change this at all....Everyone said they never saw a bride and groom have as much fun as we did
** Go to the CH - we were able to say hello to alot of people and didnt have to go table to table...whoever we didnt see in the CH came up to us at dinner
** SMILE!!! - It sounds silly but do it! I could not stop smiling alll night and it was a great feeling!
Enjoy your day and enjoy every last minute.....

I put my advice on the 08 Thread, and this was one of my chosen notebook threads...

I have to reiterate the following-try to take a few minutes alone with DH, and never stop kissing him and telling him how in love you are with him!

The best advice I can give...is look around and just watch all the happy faces celebrating YOU and YOUR DH!!! Look at what you have accomplished all on your own ( ESPECIALLY those who paid for their own weddings ) It is a huge accomplishment!!!

Remember that its not about the things. Its about you and your dh, celebrating a LIFETIME together. This is YOUR moment. DONT sweat the small stuff...we never did. All these things are not necessary....Programs, petal cones, cry packs, projection screens. I didnt do them and IM so happy that I made those decisions. ALL you really truely NEED is to be there, good food and a great dj!!! Cherish your family. I had an intimate (smaller wedding about 120 people) SO I was literally able to go up to everyone during cocktail hour and dinner to talk and take pics with everyone!!! It really means alot to your guests, so try adn make your rounds. Everyone told me afterwards that it was such an HONOR to eat or talk with the bride/groom on their wedding day, something they were NOT used too and very much appreciated.

Take time out with your dh and go for a walk. Take it all in!!! Relax and eat!! Your BMs are there to help you on this day...My bms ( well all but one ) was there offering me food, drink, help with bathroom, pictures and shoes!!! They kept asking if I needed anything...That helped alot, cus If I needed something that the maitre d couldnt do...they were right there. LIKE locating a family member!!! I had two of my BMS get my entire family together for us for photos...while me and my dh enjoyed alone time!!!

Choose your bridal party wisely!!!

And always wear something sexy underneath hahahaha!! WOOOHOOOO Cus remember the party isnt over until you say its over...dh and I are still partying...and we dont plan to stop until we have too!!! Enjoy a life full of love!!!!

Thank you ladies-
This is notebooked and I have read it through!