ADVICE FROM REAL BRIDES

Carolina

DO:

Find time to eat! Every time I grabbed a plate, the photographer wanted another portrait... I was very hungry at the end of the night, and sad that I didn't eat more since the food was delicious...

Jennifer

DO:

The best thing we could have ever done for our wedding was write our own ceremony. We picked out or wrote everything in it. I coordinated the music, we wrote our own vows, made our program, everything. It was so very personal, that it equaled no other wedding. We had been together 9 1/2 years previous, so it was very appropriate that our ceremony stick out in the minds of our family and friends. And that it did.

DON'T:

Don't forget schedule an appointment to be with your bridesmaids during their hair trial. I told them what I wanted, but it turned out differently in person!

Mary Ann

DO:

Rather than doing a traditional guest book, we made a photo album of all pictures of myself and my fiance through our dating years. The album was the kind where you paste the pictures to the page so we were able to add some sayings about love, life, friendship, or just silly notes about a picture.

Our guest book attendant passed the book around and our guests signed it like a yearbook. It was great for us to see what people wrote and the advice they had. It was also great for the guests to see us over the years. This way it is a book we will always have and will actually look at rather than hide away in our attic.

DON'T:

I wish I had thought to ask if the background would come out in the pictures. It was a overcast day and our reception was outside at my brother's house. My brother has a beautiful backyard, but it did not show up in our formals; they look as though they were taken at 12midnight. I was told later that it was just the way the film works etc. I wish I would have had other options available to me "just in case."

So you may want to make sure the background is what you want in your pictures. A friend had hers taken in front of a huge curtain with greens and pinks and her bridesmaids dresses were navy blue. The background was too busy and distracted from the people.

 

Melissa

DO:

Always cherish your family--The best thing about it was my Father's support, right before the ceremony I started crying and could not stop, my father stayed right there with me and never left my side. He comforted me and told me to relax and that everything was going to be fine, he was right, as soon as I saw my husband- to- be at the end of the aisle I knew in my heart it was all right.

DON'T:

We had a huge bridal party (17 total) and only one was from our area. Although we didn't want to exclude anyone of them, it got to be really tough to deal with everyone's questions and problems. I also wouldn't recommend staying the night before with all your family. Get away from the wedding plans so you can enjoy your wedding.