Wedding Blog

Many people comment about how they see weddings in a totally different light once they get engaged. Honestly, I’d always noticed the food, decor, and other details that contribute to the overall ambience long before I got engaged. Not because I was that interested in weddings. I’m just a detail-oriented freak like that. However, here are some things I [re]learned from the wedding we attended last night:

[1] Take pictures before the ceremony if you can. It really minimized the stress for the bride and groom as well as the bridal party. I was undecided before, but after shadowing the bridal party from 3 hours before the ceremony, I am pretty sure we’re going to do this now.

[2] A great way to save money and time is to have all the girls take care of their own hair and makeup off-site, then come to the ceremony venue to dress and put the finishing touches on together. You might get a few less “getting ready” photos, and I know this isn’t a viable option for everyone out there.

[3] Make sure the groomsmen try on their tuxes at the store before taking them home. For some guys (like mine), this is common sense. For others, the thought never enters their heads. Otherwise, you may have some very uncomfortable groomsmen who can’t sit down for fear of splitting their pants or who can’t eat/swallow/breathe, because their collars are too tight.

[4] Don’t let the bride say “yes” to everyone who wants to buy her a shot. This will result in a groom publicly (and heartily jokingly in this case) bemoaning how he won’t be able to “consummate the marriage tonight.” T.M.I. It may also ensue in some hilarity in which female friends of the groom help the bride out of her dress at the night’s end while the bridesmaids are loading the car.

[5] Going out the night before may help the groom and bride relax. It made them set an earlier deadline for wedding-related tasks to be done, and helped them with the jitters. Plus we had a ton of fun with them and a few select out-of-towners reliving the old days. Just make sure to get back early enough, especially if the bride has early hair/makeup the next morning.

[6] A bride can definitely be assertive without turning into a bridezilla. In fact, this is quite essential on the day-of.

[7] A big budget is not necessary for a fun, memorable event. I’ve been to quite a few weddings this year with much bigger budgets, and this one was one of the more fun ones thus far.

Despite all my artsy and design-y inclinations, I am a horrible photographer. So you’ll have to wait till the pro pictures come in.