words of advice for the brides-to-be...

two weeks after our big day I thought I'd share with you a few things I would do differently if I could go back...

1) if you're wearing fake lashes - bring glue with you!
one of mine started to fall off & I just left it as is, and now I look cross-eyed in photographs!

2) designate a gift person
we still have 6 unaccounted for envelopes. i was handing them off to people because I was so flustered and now some presents are missing. and we had a big card box - they just never made it in there!

3) be sure to give your photog a list of must-takes
from what I remember, ours never did anything with hands wearing our rings, any candid of me and my mom while I got dressed, any of me and my grandmother, none of DH and I getting out of the car... the list goes on. your mind is in too many places on the day of your wedding, it's best if they can remember this stuff for you.

4) don't be the last person to get your hair & makeup
I was and then I felt totally rushed. I partially blame the expensive professionals for this one. They (hair & makeup) knew our departure time. And I was so rushed I didn't get to eat anything.
ETA: originally Maria (hair) gave me a timeline but it changed because she didn't realize that I had a BM with naturally curly hair, who she wanted to work with rather than her assistant. So my BM with natural curls took the 2nd to last slot, which made me last, which pushed back my makeup (I had elected to be last with MU so it would be the freshest). It was planned properly but when things switched last minute it screwed things up. Both Maria and Karen are excellent professionals who do beautiful work - and I thank Karen for the referral to Maria but I did end up eating an Atkins bar en route to the church...!

5) double check with your officiant that they'll bring everything!
we faxed our deacon a copy of the hand ceremony and while we were at the alter he said, 'okay, give me the hand ceremony.' As if I had it in my pocket! then he announced to the crowd 'does anyone have a copy of the hand ceremony?!?' yeah of course they didn't but a few people ran up their programs thinking it might be in there and one of our readers walked up the center aisle with the prayer book thinking she had it. what a disaster!

6) spend a limited amount of time greeting your guests
MIL guilted me into sitting at each of her tables for quite some time and I never got around to my own family nor to the dance floor to enjoy the music. oh and due to this, I will never chat with a bride and groom again - they're WAY too busy!

and lastly

7) don't sweat the small stuff
ignore that your sister's bustle broke and that people didn't show. Don't focus on anything other than the beauty of the day and DH... it's not worth it!

Thanks for the great advise i will rmemember this for SATURDAY!!!!

thanks for the advice!!!!!!

I def. agree with this one, I think its one of the most important ones:

'3) be sure to give your photog a list of must-takes
from what I remember, ours never did anything with hands wearing our rings, any candid of me and my mom while I got dressed, any of me and my grandmother, none of DH and I getting out of the car... the list goes on. your mind is in too many places on the day of your wedding, it's best if they can remember this stuff for you.'

we did not take any pics with our extended fam. and no one mentioned it to me until we came back from HM. So no pics with our cousins, aunts, fam. friends. SIGH

Thanks alot! Good advice

Thanks for the advice.

this shoudl be added to the already married advice thread! Good stuff

Thank for sharing this wonderful advice with us!