Advice For Brides on Their Wedding Day
You have spent a lot of time planning your wedding day and you can not wait to walk down the aisle with the man of your dreams. It is only reasonable that you want to enjoy every bit of your wedding, especially at the moment. However, if you’re not careful to stay present, stress and worry can take precedence over enjoying your big day.
Below are some important choices you need to make to set the tone and get you started on one of the most important days of your life.
Have a lot of rest the Night Before
Oftentimes, there is so much to do in the days leading up to your wedding and more so, the eve of your wedding. You have to check with all your vendors, your bridal party, your parents, and this can leave you feeling a lot of anxiety and in most cases staying up late to ensure that things are done right. Rather than stress over the things that aren’t done, delegate to a family member, friend, or your planner, so you can have an early night. Setting the tone for your wedding with a calm, restful night will put you in the right mindset to be stress-free and present on your wedding day.
Start your day early
This is a no-brainer. Weddings with a 10 or 11 am ceremony start time could easily equate to a 5 a.m. wake-up call for the bride and her bridal party. However, it depends on the number of your bridal party and the make-up and styling crew you have. But odds are, you and your girls will likely need to start early to make sure you are relaxed and have as much fun as possible during the pictures session, and arrive at your ceremony on time. The best way to save time to take the right photos on the morning of your wedding is by being prepared. Once you find yourself behind schedule, the pressure can build up and leave you feeling tense. You do not want to arrive at your wedding flustered, neither do you want to keep your officiating ministers and guests waiting and in extreme cases, you do not want your ceremony to start without you.
Avoid Having A Lot of People in your Dressing Room
Too many cooks, they say spoils the broth. In this instance, we are not talking about food. Having too many people in your dressing room can cause a lot of unwarranted opinions and suggestions that may not align with what you and your styling crew have already agreed upon. It can also be very chaotic with constant movements and discussions. Setting a calm and serene tone for your wedding will also mean creating a serene space for yourself. Only the very important people should be in your dressing room, i.e your make-up artist and hairstylist, your photographer, and your maid-of-honor.
Don’t Wear A Gown with A Zipper
Your wedding is your day to revel in the spotlight. All eyes will be on you; whether you’re walking down the aisle, having your first dance, or mingling with the guests. So naturally, this defining moment deserves a dress worthy of the occasion. No bride wants to experience a wardrobe malfunction on their wedding day. This can make or break all the joys and happiness you want to feel with your spouse. No matter the silhouette you choose for your gown, opt for a dress with a lace loop, hook, and eye or button closure. You don’t want a bad zipper ruining your big day.
Have a Spare Pair of Shoes
Your wedding outfit is not complete without a pair of bridal bedazzled shoes and in most cases a few inches high. If you’re used to wearing flats, a high-heeled shoe can cause some real pain and discomfort — and I mean that literally, making it tough to think about anything other than your aching feet. But beyond this, it is also important that you feel comfortable from head to toe at your wedding. While a pretty pair of bridal shoes may be picture-worthy, a pair of flats or a comfortable shoe with soft soles may make all the difference in having a good day. Also, if you have a wardrobe accident and break a heel, the spare shoe may come in handy to save the day.
Make Sure you Have Breakfast
A wedding day is a very long day indeed and you don’t want hunger, a growling stomach, or feeling faint to stop you from enjoying your big day. Start the day with a light breakfast, and before you put on your dress, eat something a little heavier, preferably some carbs and protein to give you the energy to get through Church service. I know all the anxiety and happiness you feel may make you lose appetite, but a few bites can go a long way in keeping you energized for all the activities that are ahead of you.
Take Time to Yourselves During the Ceremony
It may surprise you to hear that you’ll have very little alone time with your spouse on your big day. Between greeting your guests, dealing with your parents, in-laws, aunties, uncles, relatives, friends, and an after-party, you may get no alone time with your spouse, apart from your first dance. So be sure to take a moment during the ceremony for some quality time with your spouse. Spend time in the bridal suite with your partner to bask in your newlywed bliss. Enjoy calling him your husband for the first time, admire your new wedding bands, and probably steal a few kisses. Let your planner and caterer know about this ahead of time so they can have some food, water, and some champagne ready for you.
Delegate
Weddings are a celebration of love and two families coming together, and should not be a chore. There are about a million activities to keep track of when planning a wedding, especially on the wedding day. Amidst the make session, dress fitting, church service, food service, and more, you must acknowledge that you cannot be at every place nor can you monitor all the activities going on at your wedding. You have enough major activities on your plate. Thankfully, you don’t have to manage every detail yourself. Delegate tasks to your bridal party, friends, and family members, and make one of them the point of contact for all your vendors. This will enable you to take your mind off the activities happening at your wedding and focus on your spouse.
Cooperate with your photographer
Photographers are experts at their crafts and they had a level of pedigree before you hired them. Nobody likes to be micromanaged, so rather than dictating the exact setup of shots and photos, collaborate with your photographer instead. Go over your plans with him ahead of time to ensure he understands what you want. Be sure to list out your must-have shot list and any special moments you need to have captured. While you do this, be responsive, smile, and ensure you work with him to bring out the best photographs of your event.
Do not allow anything to upset you
In many cases, you will forget the events that made you upset at your wedding many years later. While there will always be annoying activities at your wedding, it is important that you do not let anything get in the way of your joy and happiness on your big day. This can make you miss the opportunity to capture beautiful moments at your wedding.
Do not allow guests to put you under pressure to miss or cut short photo opportunities
One of the most important aspects of weddings is photography. You want to capture all the beautiful moments and portraits with your dress, your spouse, bridal party, friends, and family. A common occurrence on wedding mornings is the pressure and rush to get to church on time. Brides must ensure they start their day early in order to have enough time for portraits. In a case where you are running late, take a deep breath, relax, and set a timeline to leave your suite and work efficiently to meet it. Do not let yourself be put under pressure and miss good photo opportunities.
Assign your valuables to a specific person so that you do not end up losing them at the end of the day
Many brides lose their valuables on their wedding day. Some lose money, their phones, jewelry, and more, and they only realise this after the ceremony is over and no longer have the time to search for these items. It is also difficult to monitor the safety of these items with the influx of vendors into the bridal suite. Therefore, it is essential that you assign all your valuables to someone who you trust will keep them safe.