These weeks leading up to my early November wedding are starting to fly by! Next thing you know, I will be walking down the aisle, which I am so excited about, as I am sure you can tell by all of my recent wedding posts. It’s a day every girl dreams about!
I have been to a few weddings this year and it so different going to a wedding when you are planning your own. You look at every detail, every element and say to yourself, “ooooo, I wanna do that” or “I would do that differently.”
Some elements I truly think you should not leave out on your Big Day are:
1. Take time to greet your guests. I cant stress this enough. I have been to a few weddings where we didn’t talk to the bride and groom until the end of the night, and it was just a quick “hello.” Your guests have traveled far and wide to be a part of your Big Day, so take the time and go to each table and to greet them. Have your planner coordinate so you eat first, and once you’re done, go around while your guests are still sitting and eating and greet each table. It shows you have really taken the time and appreciate the fact that they’ve come to celebrate with you.
2. GOOD FOOD. If your food sucks, or if it’s just generic wedding food, your guests will remember that. Unfortunately, I’m sure most of us have been to a wedding where we can remember the food being bad. Take time to make sure your food and your menu are exactly what you want! Make it unique and make it tasty!
3. The music. This is a huge part of your wedding. Take time to talk to your DJ way before the wedding. This will give you time to really get to know him/her and also time to give them ideas for what you’re looking for. Go over what your likes and dislikes are. Make sure you get a good DJ that can really feel the crowd. Your guests will walk away with an impression of how much fun they had at your wedding, and a lot of that will have to do with the music!
I will tell you: My DJ, Shawn Cox, has taken so much time to really find out what Billy and I want and what we like. Also, don’t be afraid to let the DJ have fun. Hand him/her a cocktail and let loose — you won’t regret it. Stifling a DJ’s creativity by making them stick to a select playlist you’ve made can be stuffy and no fun. Why did you hire a DJ? You can hook an iPod up to speakers, and you may like it, but will your guests? That is why giving a little direction, and then trusting and allowing your DJ to feel the crowd is your best bet!
4. Programs and menus — do you honestly need them? I mean, your guests don’t know what the heck to do with them after the ceremony. I know at the weddings I have been to, I tend to look at it briefly and then either leave it on my chair after the ceremony, or toss it. Why pay the extra cost? Half of your gorgeously decorated programs go in the trash. The menu is equally unnecessary, unless you’re doing a plated meal. Why do you need one if you have a buffet? Your guests can kindly ask the buffet attendant if they are curious about what’s being served, and most the time they will have a little sign that says what you are having for dinner.
5. Personalize! Make your Big Day your own. Don’t follow every wedding magazine design or Pinterest wedding picture. Make your day yours! Don’t be generic. Have a few surprises. Something your guests will walk away with and remember after the wedding. Make it about you and your fiancé!
And the BIGGEST TIP I CAN GIVE: Don’t try to do every job. Your job is to be the bride. You hired a DJ for a reason, you hired a planner so you don’t have to stress, you hired a florist to make your bouquets beautiful. Allow yourself to not be a bridezilla. Allow your vendors to do their jobs. You hired them for a reason. Allow yourself to not be too stressed out. And if the nerves hit, drink a glass of champagne or two!
I hope this helps. I have less than 80 days to go until my wedding. I’ll be sending out invites, doing hair and makeup trials, getting more dress fittings, and I’m sure much more.
To all you other brides out there — enjoy your day!
Photo: “Bride” by Gavin Tapp is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Tags: chef nisa burns, kitchenability wedding, shawn cox DJ, wedding advice, wedding DJ, wedding food, wedding guests, wedding menu, wedding music, wedding planner, wedding planning, wedding planning advice, wedding planning tips, wedding program, wedding tips
