Wedding Tips from a Recent Bride

As an event planner and supervisor for the past 5 years, I was certain my own wedding would be a breeze to plan. It was a nice thought, but I struggled just as much as any newbie planner would with time, money, and logistics. Some of my ideas worked out great, and some of them did not. So for all of the upcoming brides, here is a list of tips from a recent bride and event planner at Catering by Seasons…

 

What Worked…

The First Look.

As much as I wanted to walk down the aisle without yet being seen, the thought of spending a hectic hour after the ceremony, rounding up family and hastily snapping pictures was not something I was excited about. Instead, I decided to have all the formal pictures taken before the ceremony. My husband and I had a “first look”, which photographers were able to truly capture. And our families really got to enjoy taking pictures, without any guests around. Then after the ceremony, my husband and I just got to have fun!

Soaking it in.

I will not be the first or last person to tell you how fast this day goes by. You plan for years and it’s over in 24 hours! Most brides, including myself, say the whole day is a blur. And that is not from lack of sobriety, it is just from adrenalin. The one moment that stands clearest in my mind on my wedding day is when I grabbed my husband and stood with him overlooking the dance floor. I told him to soak it all in, look at our friends and family, and reflect on this day. We stood there, throughout one entire song, and watched everyone smiling, laughing, dancing and singing….for us! It was truly a beautiful moment.

Partial Seating

I was set on Glenview Mansion as our wedding venue, but it did not have enough room for an indoor seated dinner with our guest count. Nor did it have places for everyone to sit, and I was worried about that. But it ended up just how I had hoped. The older folks sat and the younger folks mingled. Everyone had a place to rest their food or drink. But this was really a social event. I wanted people walking around, meeting new faces, and dancing. The partial seating made that not only possible but a tad mandatory! And people had a great time.

 

 

What Didn’t Work…

“It won’t rain!”

I had my heart set on an outdoor ceremony, and being an event planner, I should have known better. It rained just before the ceremony, and with the grounds wet, outside was no longer an option. Luckily the venue did have a backup plan with an indoor ceremony site, but it was a third the size of my party and many people did not get to witness the ceremony. If I were to do it all again, I would seriously take into consideration the possibility of rain instead of brushing it off, and come up with a rain plan that I am happy with. The last thing you should be worrying about on your wedding day is the weather.

Eating

Leading up to my wedding day, I spent so much time planning our menu – from the paired appetizers to themed stations and our cake design. The team at Catering by Seasons did a fantastic job with every request.

I told my fiancé, bridesmaids, and parents to make sure they ate! Then, I ended up not eating. It was not for lack of time, I was just way too excited. I literally had no appetite. This happens to most brides, either they don’t have time or are not hungry. I was convinced that would not be me. Eventually you will be starving and that happened to me at about 3:00 am. Either have your caterer pack a to-go box for you, or make sure you have food waiting in your hotel room. Which also means make sure you have a fridge and microwave in your suite!

No Videographer

I did not have any wiggle room in my budget for a videographer, so I opted not to splurge. I figured the photographs would be enough to remember the day. But there are so many moments that I wish had been videotaped now. If you are in the same boat as me, and do not have room in the budget for a professional, at least sit with a responsible friend and go through certain moments you would like captured. Moments that come to mind for me are the first dance, introductions, cake cutting, toasts, bouquet toss and garter. Even a simple iPhone video would do!

No matter how many tips you read or how well you plan your wedding, something will unpredictably happen. But isn’t that what marriage is about, facing the unpredictable? At the end of the day, the most important thing is your love and devotion for your husband or wife. The good outweighs the bad, every time.

Special thanks to Catering by Seasons for not only catering my wedding, but running the show! My event manager, Glynis Keith did everything from setup my cake, to cue my bridesmaids down the aisle. The staff at Catering by Seasons is constantly going above and beyond for their clients. I couldn’t be happier with how the day turned out.

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