Advice From First Time Brides

Wedding planning can be stressful from the jump. You want to come as close to your vision as possible without breaking the bank. Plus, planning for the big day can be uncharted territory. You don’t really know what you’re getting into until the engagement ring is on your finger. Who should cater? Indoor or outdoor wedding? Does every table need an accent piece? I picked the brains of some brides who were on the frontlines planning their own big day. Here’s some advice (on the house), to consider in order to make sure your big day runs smoothly!

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Build a Trusted Team

From the months of planning beforehand to the break down after the party has ended, your wedding vendors are the ones who will be executing your wedding day vision. Make sure that you surround yourself with a team that you trust and can depend on. Set up Zoom consults and in-person meetings. This will help to get to know your vendors and understand their process. Remember, your photographer, videographer, and wedding planner will be with you the entire day. Make sure you jive with them and can see yourself hanging out with them for a day and maybe even beyond that.

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Splurging can be worth it

“We vouch to the concept of paying a little extra for high-quality services – for example, we could’ve done our invites ourselves, however I would’ve spent DAYS looking through templates, futzing with wording, formatting, etc.;” explained Hannah, a Wisconsin bride  (Check out her wedding here!). In the interest of time (and peace of mind), review your budget, and leave room for the areas where you can splurge. Leaving it to the professionals will save you a potential DIY nightmare, and ensure that your night is unforgettable.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Tracy Sween, a Salt Lake City based bride, nailed it on the head. “Trust your decisions, and move on. People don’t remember the details, they remember the experience. Prioritize the key components of what you value to be part of your special day. The rest doesn’t matter as much as you think it does.” While it might feel like your big day needs to be absolutely perfect, with not so much as a thread on your dress out of place, the guests are only there to have a good time, and to celebrate the happy couple. Keep in mind what is most important which (hopefully), is marrying your other half, and let the smaller details fall where they may.

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Stay True to Your Vision

The most common advice that brides like to emphasize is to make sure that the wedding is about you and your partner. Ideas, suggestions, and (let’s face it), demands, will come at you from every angle, muddling your vision and making it easy to get frustrated. “It’s easy to get caught up in pleasing family and friends, and you don’t want to look back one day and think ‘that wasn’t us.,’” Kelly Auxier, a native Minneapolis bride advises. It might be hard standing up to your mother, but she if insists that purple bridesmaids dresses are the way to go, when you know that navy blue is more suitable for your palette, stick to your guns and you won’t regret it.

All in all, we all know that your special day will be just that – special! Plan what you can in order to make it run smoothly, and let the rest of your worries fall to the wayside. Everyone will have a good time if they see that you are having a good time. Soak it in because it will be over before you know it!

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Create a Tradition

“We have one final fun piece of advice that we got from another couple and want to pass along to others since we loved it so much! Prior to your wedding day, go on a date and pick out a special wedding day perfume and cologne together. Save this to wear for the first time on your wedding day and then reserve it for special occasions following your big day; whenever you wear your “wedding day scent” you will feel like you are reliving your best day ever over and over again!” For any couple looking to add something extra special and intimate to their agenda, make your own, fun tradition and stick to it as you two grow old together. It will be a lingering reminder of your Big Day, and will create a bonding memory that only you two share.

Lastly, do you wish there was something you knew before planning your wedding? Let us (and future brides!) know in the comments!