Top 10 Wedding Do’s and Don’ts for the Bride
In this blog Elzahn from LeFox Weddings and Events goes through the Top 10 Wedding Do’s and Don’ts for every Bride during the wedding planning process.
Not much of a reader? No problem! Watch the video version here with Elzahn:
Don’t for the Bride:
1. Don’t Forget About Your Fiancé:
It might not seem like something you’d do but we often get our heads caught up in having that perfect fairytale wedding you dreamt about as a little girl which causes you to neglect the thoughts that your fiancé might have to offer. This is not just another event or a party you’re planning, it’s a massive life transition! It’s your wedding, a celebration of the love you have for each other. Talk to each other, hear what his plans are and how he has envisioned his wedding day. Combine your ideas to create the ultimate wedding aesthetic that represents you as a couple. This way, it won’t just be the happiest day of your lives but he will appreciate the smaller things, even more, knowing that it’s his creation too.
2. Don’t Be Bossy With Your Bridesmaids:
Bridesmaids are your closest friends, sisters, future in-laws. They are there to stand up during your vows, try to prepare you emotionally before the ceremony, keep you on your toes at all times and even to help you hold up your dress while you to go to the bathroom. There is something sweet about your bridesmaids gathering around you the entire day. They are your support structure and will always be there in a time of need but some brides will demand more. They will almost start treating them like servants. DON’T let this happen, be kind. Remind yourself how you would feel if the tables were turned. Remember these are the people that will stand by you till the end.
3. Don’t Go DIY Crazy:
We all admire that one bride that baked her own three-tiered cake, pre-cooked her homemade meals, sewn her dress, made and set up her entire decor but this can cause a lot of unnecessary stress. I’m not saying don’t DIY certain things at your wedding, I’m saying don’t DIY everything. The entire point behind DIY is to save money and put a one-of-a-kind stamp on things but if you’re not someone who can cope with a lot of things at one time and you’re not really the hands-on type, don’t drain yourself. Do what you can and rather ask, hire or buy the rest. Doing everything DIY might sometimes work out more expensive than you think.
4. Don’t Leave Your Guests Too Long Between Ceremony and Reception:
Planning the perfect time schedule might not always be easy, especially if you have envisioned a different location for your couple’s shoot. If it does happen that you have two different locations that might take a little longer travel time, then make sure that your guest will be comfortable and happy while you are gone. Have good entertainment in place to keep them busy, have a lot of beverages to keep them refreshed, especially if you have a summer wedding. The most important thing is to have an amazing MC who can stall time while keeping your crowd laughing. You have to ensure that your guests won’t get impatient and unhappy.
5. Plan Your Wedding For Yourself, Not For Others:
If you are a people-pleaser, you might find yourself saying yes to everything but it’s okay to say no. A wedding is a great way to get unsolicited opinions but it’s very important to remember this is your day. At the end of the day, no one’s opinions will matter because this entire day is based on you as a couple. Your friends, family or whoever it might be, need to understand that they have to respect your boundaries. Planning your wedding based on everyone else’s opinions will not only make you unhappy but will affect your fiance as well. Don’t let family nor friends talk you into doing something you don’t want.
Do’s for the Bride:
6. Be Organised:
There are various ways to keep organised. You can use a google excel sheet to keep track of all the things you have to do. The last thing you want is to lose track of what you have done and what you still have to do, not knowing what to cover next. The last thing you want is to turn into Bridezilla the last minute because you are stressed out about unorganised planning. This is another great reason why you should hire a wedding planner, they will keep everything organised for you and they will make sure that everything is in place on the day. If you do struggle to keep track of everything, rather have someone else do it for you.
7. Stick to Your Budget:
Come on girls, we are all guilty of overspending but it’s important to stick to your budget. Reason being, you might not always realize how much that extra R5000 will affect you after your wedding. You don’t want to be in the situation of still paying off your wedding debt after 5years of being married. Sit down with your fiancé and work out how much you can afford to spend and where to allot your money.
8. Put Extra Money Aside For Extra Charges:
There might be items that you have forgotten about during the stressful time of planning. Make sure to put extra money aside in your budget to cover any little mistakes. It’s very important to remember that unexpected things can happen that you might need to cover last minute, extra charges. Ensure yourself that if this had to happen, you are fully prepared and ready to solve it!
9. Practice Self Care:
Looking after yourself is very important. Let’s make sure that your skin looks amazing on the day of your wedding by taking care of it 6months before. Prevent having pimples and marks on the day of the wedding, which will also make it easier for the makeup artist. Relax, take all the time you need and help yourself unwind. Take a day to spoil yourself, go have a to-expensive-but-who-cares massage, go do whatever makes you feel relaxed for a day.
10. Schedule Appointments:
Make sure you schedule your appointments with the vendors beforehand. It’s always a good thing to schedule ahead of time so that you can ensure availability with the vendors and avoid being disappointed. Most vendors get booked u to six months before the wedding.
